TWIN    ROSES 


TWIN    ROSES. 


A    NARRATIVE. 


BY    ANNA    CORA    RITCHIE. 

AUTHOR  OF  "  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AN  ACTRESS,"  "  MIMIC  LIFE," 
"  AKMAND,"  ETC. 


"  How  have  you  made  division  of  yourself  ? 
An  apple,  cleft  in  two.  is  not  more  twin  „ 
Thau  these  two  creatures." 

SHAKESPEARE. 


BOSTON: 
TICKNOR    AND    FIELDS. 

M  DCCC  LVII. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1857,  by 

WlLl.HW    FoUSUKi:    UlTYIIlK, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetto 


CAMBRIDGE: 
•TCRKOTTPID    AMD    P  R  I  If  T  P.  D    BY 

H.    0.   HOUUHTON   AMD   CX)Mi 


MY   SISTERS, 

NINE  OF   THE  BRIGHTEST   LINKS  IN  LIFE'S   CHAIN, 
THIS   NARRATIVE  IS  DEDICATED 
BY 

ANNA    CORA   RITCHIE. 


1703372 


PREFACE. 


"  TWIN  ROSES  "  belongs  to  the  series  of  narra- 
tives commenced  in  "  Mimic  Life." 

A  friend  asks,  "  Why  do  you  devote  yourself  to 
writing  of  the  stage  ?  could  you  not  be  inspired 
with  equal  interest  in  other  subjects  ?  "  Yes ; — 
but  it  was  not  designed  that  the  experiences  of 
ten  years  should  be  wasted.  There  are  abun- 
dant workers  in  other  fields;  the  invisible  hand 
that  rules  events  points  out  my  humbler  task  in 

this. 

A.  C.  R. 


CONTENTS. 


PAOI 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE    WHITE    ROSE 1 


CHAPTER  U. 
HERMAN     AND     JEANNIE 21 

CHAPTER  III. 

A     SERPENT     TONGUE 35 

CHAPTER  IV. 
DEARLY-BOUGHT    EXPERIENCE 46 

CHAPTER  V. 
THE  RED    ROSE 60 

CHAPTER  VI. 
THE    LOVERS 78 

CHAPTER  VII. 
A  BRIDAL 90 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

TEMPTATION ]  04 


COXTKNTS. 

PAQB 


CHAl'TKK  IX. 

AN  uran  IN  i;n   BOUM 


CHAPTER  X, 
OCKAN  I'l  l:u  -  ...................................     133 

CHAPTER  XI. 
THB   MISSING    BOAT  ...............................    146 

CHAPTER  XII. 

8TRUOOI.KS     IV     llll       NI.\V     WOI'.I.D  ..................     153 

CH.MTKK  XIII. 
.....................................    166 


niAi-iTi;  xiv. 

.................................    182 

CHAI'IKI:   XV. 
mi     N\III:\I    i.i:ii>i,i:  ............................    193 


\\  I. 
\  i  ...................................    208 

THAI1  ll.!!  XVII. 
CLOUDS  ..........................................   218 

CIIAIMI.I;  xvni. 
.  i>    VM.    INK    in  I.HN<  ii  .....................   228 

cii\rn:i:  MX. 
t>TK»t  ....................................  242 


259 


TWIN    ROSES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    WHITE    ROSE. 

THEY  chatted  merrily  over  their  work,  —  that 
group  of  pale-faced  women.  Their  fingers  were 
weary,  and  their  eyes  heavy  ;  but  the  employ- 
ment in  which  they  were  engaged  elicited  a 
transient  interest.  The  raiment  they  were  fash- 
ioning, was  of  garish  hues  and  seemingly  rich 
materials.  Here  an  ermine  mantle  swept  the 
ground,  —  there  lay  a  robe  of  ruby-colored  velvet, 
sparkling  with  festal  gold  ;  scattered  spangles 
wasted  their  brightness  on  the  uncarpeted  floor, 
and  bullion  glittered  in  prodigal  profusion. 

The  room  was  long  and  narrow.  The  waUs 
were  lined  with  rows  of  shelves  mounting  to  the 
ceiling.  Many  a  tedious  flight  of  ladder-like 
stair  must  be  climbed  before  that  apartment 
could  be  reached.  It  was  a  theatrical  wardrobe. 
i 


2  TWIN    K' 

The  mirthful  voices  are  suddenly  hushed, — 
the  busy  needles  dart  in  and  out  with  fresh 
velocity.  Mr.  Brown  has  stolen  into  the  room 
unheard,  and,  with  rebuking  visage,  confronts  the 
gossiping  group.  These  slaves  of  the  needle 
are  his  subjects,  and  this  Prince  of  "masking 
stall'"  is  a  merciless  despot. 

The  little  shrivelled  up  costumer  has,  by  logi- 
cal deducements,  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that 
he  is  the  most  consummate  and  important  artist 
in  the  temple  of  dramatic  art,  from  which  our 
narrative  starts.  He  is  perfect  master  of  the'mys- 
t cries  of  "  snip  and  nip,  and  cut,  and  slish,  and 
slash,  according  to  the  fashion  and  the  time." 
!!'•  boasts  of  intimate  acquaintance  with  the 
sics, — and  has  great  respect  for  the  old  fogies 
of  antiquity,— especially  for  one  Plato,  who  sage- 
ly defines  man  to  be  "  an  animal,  with  two  legs 
and  without  feathers."*  Mr.  Brown's  diminutive 
heart  beats  high  in  his  circumscribed  bosom  as 
he  p-llccts  that  h<  converts  this  animal  man  into 
a  hero,  by  supplying  the  absent  plumage. 

Mr.  Hrown  is  well  versed  in  history,  but,  to 
hi  in  the  historic  page  only  unfolds  one  vast,  con- 
timioii-  illustration  of  costume.  All  great  polit- 

•  Apophthegnuta  of  Diogenes  Laertius. 


TWIN   ROSES.  3 

ical  convulsions  are  chronicled  by  variation  of 
outward  adornment.  A  strict  adherence  to  his- 
torical authority,  Mr.  Brown  regards  as  the  relig- 
ion of  his  craft.  He  descants  with  unmeasured 
disgust  upon  the  days  when  Garrick  played  Mac- 
beth in  the  costume  of  a  general  officer,  with 
scarlet  coat,  gold  lace,  and  powdered  wig.  Mr. 
Brown  has  done  away  with  all  such  anachronisms 
in  the  dramas  he  "  dresses."  Oh, — of  course ; 
who  doubts  it  ? 

These  toiling  women  he  regards  as  mere  human 
sewing-machines — out  of  every  one  the  greatest 
possible  amount  of  work  must  be  extracted.  He 
has  the  privilege  of  engaging  or  discharging  them, 
i.  e.,  of  enabling  them  to  exist  or  giving  them  a 
fair  chance  of  starvation.  What  wonder  that  the 
presence  of  the  Schneider- King  excites  awe  ? 

Mr.  Brown  now  carried  on  one  arm  portions  of 
a  black  velvet  costume,  and  on  the  other  trim- 
mings of  purple  satin. 

"  Chatter — chatter — chatter  !  always  chatter- 
ing !  Set  of  lazy  magpies  !  Lavish  of  your 
tongues  and  sparing  of  your  needles.  Pity  I 
can't  employ  your  tongues  to  do  the  stitching. 
That  would  be  a  bargain  worth  something.  Now 
stir  yourselves  and  take  this  in  hand  at  once. 
Hamlet  dress — just  taken  measure." 


4  TWIN   ROSES. 

"  Who  is  going  to  play  Hamlet  ?  "  asked  sev- 
eral voices  at  once. 

"  A  Tyro  who  can  afford  to  do  the  handsome 
tiling  for  his  stage  bravery.  That's  the  most  im- 
portant point.  Wants  the  grandest  Hamlet  fit- 
out  that  ever  dilated  the  eyes  of  the  British  pub- 
lic. We'll  do  Hamlet  for  him  in  first-rate  style." 

"  Is  he  young  ?  Is  he  handsome  ?  Has  he 
ever  appeared  before  ? "  asked  Liza,  the  most 
juvenile  of  the  group. 

«  What  if  he  is  ?  What  if  he  hasn't  ?  "  replied 
Mr.  Brown  with  decorous  sternness.  "  What's 
that  to  you,  Miss  Liza  ?  Mind  your  work  or 
we  can  find  somebody  who  will.  This  trimming 
must  be  extra  rich.  Can  only  trust  that  to  Jeannie 
Garnett's  dainty  fingers.  You,  Liza,  lazy  bones, 
hunt  up  the  black  bugles  and  take  them  in  to 
Jeannie.  Tell  her  we  want  some  of  her  finest 
L,rns.  Be  off  with  you  !  " 

"  When  is  the  dress  to  be  completed  ?  "  asked 
one  of  the  women  timidly. 

'•  IimneiliiiU'ly — of  course,  immediately.     Let's 

have   no    napping   over   your   thimbles.     I    shall 

:i  -quint  at  you  again  by  and  bye,  so  look 

rp  mid  no  more  chattering.     Wish  some  one 

would    invent    a   inuxxle    for   women's   tongues. 

Valuable  patent  that." 


TWIN   ROSES.  5 

Mr.  Brown  withdrew.  Liza  selected  the  bugles, 
gathered  up  the  purple  trimmings,  and  opened  a 
door  which  led  into  an  inner  chamber. 

What  a  delicious  perfume  came  floating  on 
the  musty,  tinsel-tainted  atmosphere!  A  gale  of 
Araby  wafted  into  a  workhouse.  What  had  the 
breath  of  flowers  to  do  there  ? 

The  single  window  of  that  small  apartment 
was  visible  as  the  door  unclosed.  At  the  first 
glance,  you  fancied  there  must  be  a  bower  with- 
out. A  broad  shelf — a  species  of  rude  balcony — 
or  tiny,  hanging  garden,  shot  out  beneath  the 
casement.  Roses  and  heliotropes,  bright-hued 
geraniums,  odorous  verbena,  sweet-scented  mign- 
onette and  spring  violets  crowded  one  another 
in  loving  proximity.  From  either  extremity  of 
this  miniature  parterre  sprang  jasmine  and 
cypress  vines,  intermingling  their  pearly  white 
and  scarlet  flowers,  and  clambering  upwards 
until  the  twining  tendrils  formed  an  arch  over 
the  window.  They  partly  screened  the  dingy 
house-tops,  but  revealed  one  glimpse  of  blue 
sky,  and  gave  to  the  casement  that  bower-like 
aspect. 

From  a  rustic  basket,  suspended  just  within 
the  room,  a  luxuriant  air  plant  spread  out  its 
rich,  green  drapery,  and  embowered  a  wicker 
1  * 


6  TWIN   ROSES. 

cage  that  hung  beneath.  A  tame  bulfinch  made 
music  within. 

In  that  chamber's  narrow  circuit,  how  many 
objects  arrest  and  charm  the  eye!  And  with 
what  humble  appliances  have  these  picturesque 
surroundings  been  produced ! 

The  whitewashed  walls  are  covered  with 
simple  engravings,  but  the  subjects  are  exquisite. 
There  is  the  marriage  of  St.  Catherine — here 
Carlo  Dolci's  Virgin  and  Child — there  St.  Cathe- 
rine bome  to  heaven  by  The  Angels — Raphael's 
Holy  Family — Hubner's  Guardian  Angels — 
illo's  St.  John,  and  Raphael's  Vision  of 


The  frames  are  constructed  of  pine  and  fir, 
and  hemlock  cones — perchance  poverty  could 
aspire  to  no  costlier. 

A  small  bracket  between  every  picture,  holds 
a  statuette — of  humble  plaster,  it  is  true,  but 
embodying  almost  as  eloquently  as  marble  the 
sculptor's  inspiration. 

Blessed  are  the  brush,  the  chisel,  the  pen- 
<il!  Who  shall  say  that  artists  are  not  posi- 
ncfactors  of  mankind?  To  render  the 
beautiful  ideal  an  actual  presence,  to  fill  the 
mind,  through  tin-  medium  of  the  eyes,  with 
lovely  images— to  raise  the  hearts — to  refine  UK- 


TWIN   ROSES.  7 

daily  thoughts — are  not  these  works  of  bene- 
faction ? 

But  let  us  return  to  Jeannie's  chamber. 

The  pictures  are  interrupted  by  a  hanging 
library  abundantly  supplied  with  books. 

A  white  curtained  bed  fills  one  corner  of  the 
room.  Before  it  stands  a  rudely  cushioned 
bench — it  could  hardly  be  termed  a  sofa.  A 
pair  of  crutches  lie  near. 

Upon  this  couch  reclines  a  fragile  girl.  Her 
shoulders  are  supported  with  pillows,  her  hands 
are  busily  employed  upon  some  glittering  labor. 
Her  features,  delicate  and  faultlessly  regular, 
bear  the  impress  of  that  highest  beauty  which 
betokens  the  all-pervading  loveliness  within. 
The  dominant  expression  of  her  countenance  is 
one  of  tender  thoughtfulness. 

An  extreme  love  of  the  beautiful,  that  love 
which  draws  its  heavenly  origin  from  an  affec- 
tion for  the  holy  and  true — that  love  which  the 
dull  utilitarian  cannot  comprehend,  because  he 
never  reflects  that  God  might  have  created  the 
earth,  and  supplied  man's  fullest  need,  without 
rainbows,  without  flowers,  without  the  glorious 
pageantry  of  the  sunrise,  and  the  more  gorgeous 
sunset  sky — without  the  mystic  splendors  of 
the  moonlight — without  the  myriad  shapes  of 


g  TWIN    ROSES. 

symmetry  and  grace  that  hourly  sweep  before 
our  careless  eyes ; — that  innate  love  in  Jeannie 
Garnett's  bosom  had  found  expression  in  the 
only  utterance  which  poverty  permitted — un- 
costly adornments  gathered  into  graceful  com- 
binations by  the  magical  fingers  of  taste. 

Consonant  with  her  own  harmonious  nature 
were  the  forms  around  her.  They  counteracted 
the  hardening  influence  of  life's  daily  prosaisms. 
They  lulled  her  into  self-forgetfulness.  They 
lifted  her  thoughts  above  the  day's  weary  routine 
and  riveted  them  in  holy  contemplation. 

That  little  chamber  was  her  world.  For  four 
years  she  had  not  crossed  its  threshold.  Well 
might  she  surround  herself  with  objects  upon 
\vhich  those  mild,  dark  eyes  could  rest  with 
thoughtful  pleasure! 

Jeannie  and  Jessie  Garnett  were  twin  sisters ; 

the  only  children  of  an  actress   who  held    the 

position  next  in  rank   to  that  of  leading  lady  in 

a  London  theatre.     Its  name  is  of  little  moment, 

for  it   has  changed  its  appellation  since  the  days 

of  which  we  write.     The  father  of  the  twins  died 

(luring  thrir  infancy.     The  mother  labored  dili- 

ly  in  IMT  profession,  but  her   children   were 

"ployed  on  the  stage.     It  was  generally 

supposed  that  she  did  not  design  them  for  the 


TWIN   ROSES.  9 

boards  ;  though  she  made  no  declaration  on  the 
subject. 

In  her  intercourse  she  was  exceedingly  re- 
served,— a  woman  not  easily  comprehended. 
Many  regarded  her  as  a  visionary,  because  she 
entertained,  and,  with  modest  firmness,  avowed, 
religious  convictions  which  unreflecting  minds 
could  not  make  the  exertion  to  investigate,  or 
had  not  the  power  to  grasp;  bepause  to  her  it 
was  a  refreshment  and  delight  to  read  "truths 
of  power  in  words  immortal,"  truths  which  super- 
ficial thinkers  termed  deep,  abstruse,  unintelli- 
gible. But  her  life  commanded  respect,  and  her 
unobtrusive  mildness  won  affection. 

Her  children  were  the  chief  joy  of  her  exist- 
ence. With  loving  assiduity  she  planted  the 
seeds  of  knowledge  in  their  infantile  hearts,  and 
held  to  their  young  lips  fresh  waters  from  the 
fountain  of  heavenly  life. 

The  twins  had  just  entered  their  fifteenth 
year  when  their  mother  was  seized  with  a  nerv- 
ous fever,  the  consequence  of  incessant  exertion 
in  her  profession.  Her  illness  was  brief,  but  it 
closed  the  book  of  her  earthly  sorrows. 

The  orphans,  even  in  the  wild  agony  of  their 
first  grief,  felt  that  their  mother  was  not  wholly 
sundered  from  them.  Her  angel  guardianship 


10  TWIN    K' 

. 

infused  fortitude  and  patience  into  their  stricken 
spirits.     Such  had  been  her  teachings. 

They  had  no  relatives — no  friends,  save  the 
casual  professional  associates  of  their  mother. 
When  her  funeral  expenses  and  other  liabilities 
\vrre  defrayed,  the  sura  that  remained  would 
keep  want's  grim  visage  from  their  hearthstone 
for  a  few  months  only.  "What  was  to  become 
of  the  bereaved  ones  ? 

N:iiur:illy  the  manager,  and  members  of  the 
company,  advised  the  only  course  which  to  them 
appeared  feasible — the  children  must  adopt  their 
mother's  vocation. 

Bewildered  by  the  sudden  shock,  and  clinging 
\\  ith  passionate  fondness  to  each  other,  the  sis- 
ters were  induced  to  listen  to  this  proposition 
because  it  did  not  separate  them.  Their  scenic 
powers  had  never  been  tested,  but  they  had  in- 
trlligence,  education,  grace  of  form,  and  remark- 
able beauty.  The  position  of  first  and  second 
tlking  ladies"  did  not  demand  brilliant  tal- 
• 

r  resemblance  was  so  extraordinary  that 
by  thr  audience  they  were  constantly  mistaken. 
Thi-  UVnrss  was  not  of  person  only,  but  of 
mind,  character,  and  feeling.  Their  hearts  ever 
beat  responsive  to  each  other.  They  thought 


TWIN   ROSES.  11 

alike — suffered  alike — hoped  alike-Wnjoyed  the 
same  pleasures — loved  the  same  persons. 

A  year  after  they  entered  the  profession,  a 
magnificent  mythological  spectacle  was  repre- 
sented with  great  splendor.  Jeannie  personated 
Proserpine — and  Jessie,  Juno. 

As  Proserpine  is  gathering  flowers  in  the  fields 
of  Enna,  she  is  captured  by  Pluto.  He  forces 
her  into  his  chariot,  the  ground  suddenly  opens, 
and  they  descend  to  the  regions  over  which  he 
reigns. 

This  classical  feat,  transferred  to  the  boards,  is 
necessarily  executed  by  means  of  a  trap.  The 
cords  which  sustained  the  descending  platform 
chanced  to  be  insecure — they  slackened — gave 
way!  Pluto  and  Proserpine  were  precipitated 
into  the  vault  beneath  the  stage.  The  lower 
regions,  indeed!  Both  were  severely  injured. 
The  actor  broke  his  leg.  Jeannie's  calamity  was 
of  a  more  complicated  description  and  produced 
a  spinal  disease. 

We  pass  over  the  horror  and  anguish  of 
Jessie, — Jeannie's  long  illness — the  mutual  suf- 
ferings of  the  twins. 

It  was  six  months  before  Jeannie,  by  the  aid 
of  crutches,  could  stand.  Even  with  their  help, 
every  attempt  at  locomotion  was  attended  with 


12  TWIN   ROSES. 

severe  pair!?  Her  entire  restoration  was  doubtful 
— hardly  to  be  anticipated. 

The  sisters  had  always  displayed  the  most  pic- 
turesque taste  in  their  stage  apparel — the  work 
of  their  own  hands.  Their  embroideries,  in  par- 
ticular, were  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  the 
company.  Even  the  self-sufficient  Mr.  Brown 
had  once  or  twice  condescended  to  beg  that  they 
would  favor  him  with  a  copy  of  some  flowery 
design. 

"  Though  I  have  nearly  lost  the  use  of  my 
feet,  my  hands  are  left  me,"  said  Jeannie  to  her 
sister,  "  and  I  must  not  forget  their  value.  I  can 
never  act  again,  but  Mr.  Brown  will  employ  me 
in  the  wardrobe,  I  am  sure." 

She  was  right.  Mr.  Brown,  with  a  satisfac- 
tion which  was  transparent  even  through  his 
fresh  assumption  of  dignity,  condescended  to 
accept  her  offer. 

There  was  one  great  drawback.  Even  in  the 
best  regulated  theatre  the  work  of  the  wardrobe 
must  be  rapidly  executed,  and  may  be  demanded 
at  any  unlocked  for  moment.  Jeannie's  lodg- 
ings were  a  mile  distant ;  time  was  lost  in  carry- 
ing the  work  to  her  and  sending  for  it  home 
again. 

Mr«.  Budd,  the  housekeeper  of  the  establish- 


TWIN  ROSES.  13 

tnent,  had  a  peculiar  veneration  for  Mr.  Brown. 
His  wishes  were  her  laws.  He  was  a  bachelor, 
she  a  widow — but  that  might  have  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  matter.  Mr.  Brown  wanted  his  new 
needle-slave  constantly  at  hand.  Mrs.  Budd  im- 
mediately proposed  that  the  small  chamber  ad- 
joining the  wardrobe  should  be  appropriated  to 
the  twins.  Jeannie  could  thus  be  always  at  his 
command.  Mrs.  Budd's  plan  was  carried  into 
execution,  though  the  removal  cost  the  invalid 
intense  suffering. 

Our  tale  commences  four  years  later. 

That  little  chamber,  high  up  above  the  mock- 
ery and  revelry — the  glare  and  false  show  of  the 
stage  world  beneath,  was  like  a  hidden  sanctuary 
in  some  crowded,  godless  city.  A  tabernacle 
tenanted  by  two  unaware  angels.  A  spot  of 
holy  ground  in  a  desert.  And  these  twin  roses 
blooming  in  secret — perfumed  and  purified  the 
strife-tainted  atmosphere  with  the  heavenly  in- 
cense of  pious,  patient,  grateful  hearts. 

Could  it  be  that  a  being  suddenly  smitten 
down  in  the  plenitude  of  health  and  beauty — 
isolated — condemned  to  labor  in  seclusion  and 
poverty — so  sorely,  hopelessly  afflicted  as  Jeannie 
Garnett,  could  be  content  ?  That  tranquil,  fur- 
rowless  countenance,  over  which  soft  smiles 


14  TWIN   ROSES. 

are  rippling  as  she  lifts  her  eyes  to  the  flowers, 
the  pictures,  the  simple  statuettes,  the  caged 
songster,  give  an  unmistakable  answer.  The 
truths  she  has  learned  from  her  mother  are  treas- 
ured in  the  calm  depths  of  her  spirit,  and  enrich 
her  life  with  that  wealth  which  alone  purchases 
happiness.  She  believes — she  feels — she  knows 
that  every  being  has  his  allotted  part  to  fulfil  in 
the  grand  scheme  divine — however  humble  yet 
important  to  the  great  whole.  She  labors  in 
one  remote  comer  of  her  master's  vineyard — 
the  ground  is  rough — the  soil  unfruitful — the 
corner  dark — but  the  lord  of  the  vineyard  bids 
her  toil  tln're! — that  spot  needs  most  the  labor 
she  can  bestow.  She  is  content  to  perform  the 

.  assigned  her,  and  humbly  deems  that  it 
must  be  the  one  for  which  she  is  best  fitted. 

At  the  period  of  which  we  write,  Jessie  was 
absent. 

Owing  to  a  sudden  influx  of  visitors  on  the 
titiful  Isle  of  Wight,  the  miniature  theatre  at 
Ryde  had  been  hastily  opened.  The  manager 
the  friend  of  Mr.  Linkum,  the  London  man- 
ager, in  whose  establishment  the  two  sisters  were 
permanently  engaged.  Mn  Linkum  agreed  to 
send  a  portion  of  his  company  to  Ryde.  Jessie 

\Va~  line   (if    ihr    number  selected. 


TWIN   ROSES.  15 

This  was  the  first  parting  of  the  sisters — a 
sorrow  they  had  never  anticipated,  and  found  it 
difficult  to  endure. 

Good  Mrs.  Budd  promised,  over  and  over 
again,  to  take  excellent  care  of  Jeannie,  but  very 
few  were  the  moments  which  that  bustling,  busy 
personage  could  spend  in  the  invalid's  apartment. 
The  worthy  housekeeper  was  always  hurrying 
onward,  panting  for  breath  as  though  pursued 
by  some  invisible  foe — always  complaining  that 
life  was  too  short — that  there  was  so  little  time 
for  any  thing — always  laboring,  but  with  Sisy- 
phus-like result. 

The  members  of  the  company,  however,  paid 
Jeannie  frequent  visits  and  discharged  the  kind 
offices  which  her  helplessness  demanded.  The 
patience  with  which  she  bore  her  misfortune  ren- 
dered even  callous  natures  compassionate. 

Liza  had  given  Jeannie  the  purple  trimmings, 
delivered  Mr.  Brown's  order,  and  retired.  Jeannie 
was  sketching  a  rich  border  of  grape-vines  and 
leaves  when  the  door  flew  open. 

"  Oh,  Jeannie,  I  thought  I  must  come  and  tell 
you — I  am  afraid  I  shall  expire  of  laughter.  Oh ! 
if  you  could  but  have  seen  the  exhibition." 

The  young  girl  who  uttered  these  words  threw 
herself  on  the  low  chair  by  Jeannie's  couch — 
Jessie's  favorite  seat,  and  laughed  immoderately. 


16  TWIN   ROSES. 

"  What  is  it,  Dolly  dear  ? "  asked  Jeannie, 
adding  a  few  touches  to  her  grape-vine. 

«  A  stage-struck  youth !  The  first  rehearsal  is 
just  over!  What  fun  we  have  had  guying  him ! 
Oh,  these  unfortunate,  facile  amateurs!  That's 
the  border  of  his  Hamlet  dress,  I  warrant." 

«  Yes — I  expect  so,  but  I  did  not  hear  who 
was  to  wear  it" 

"  The  handsomest  youth  you  need  ever  hope 
to  steal  a  look  at  through  those  long  lashes  of 
yours.  A  perfect  Apollo  !  Such  a  noble  form — 
such  clustering  brown  curls — such  brilliantly 
blue  eyes — florid  complexion — magnificent  teeth 
— mouth  "like  Cupid's  bow,"  as  the  poets  say. 
Can't  you  see  him  in  imagination  ?  But  there's 
a  soft  place  under  those  glossy  locks.  The  man 
imagines  himself  destined  to  become  a  great 
actor.  He  is  the  very  incarnation  of  ruddy 
health  and  happy  spirits,  yet  he  confidently 
informed  me  that  there  was  a  singular  affin- 
ity between  his  character  and  that  of  the  mel- 
ancholy Hamlet!  He  had  felt  it  from  boy- 
hood !  He  first  studied  the  role  when  he  was  a 
mere  youth.  Now  that  he  has  resolved  to 
become  a  dramatic  artist,  he  has  chosen  the  char- 
acter with  which  lie  1ms  such  perfect  sympathy 
for  his  dSbut!  He  looked  quite  shocked  when 


TWIN   ROSES.  17 

I  told  him  it  would  take  an  extra  quantity  of 
chalk  and  powder  to  suppress  the  natural  and 
most  un-Hamlet-like  carnations  on  his  cheeks." 

"  Was  it  well  to  mortify  him  ?  " 

"  I  should  not  have  dared  had  I  been  a  man, 
for  I  fancy  he  has  plenty  of  fight  in  him.  He 
reminded  me  of  the  anecdotes  we  hear  of  chival- 
rous gentlemen  at  Donny  Brook  Fair,  who  draw 
a  line  of  chalk  around  their  hats  and  knock 
down  any  one  who  is  bold  enough  to  declare 
that  it  is  not  silver  lace.  This  youth  pronounces 
himself  an  actor,  and  there  is  a  challenge  in  his 
eyes  for  those  who  have  the  courage  to  gainsay 
him,  at  their  peril." 

"  But  who  is  he,  Dolly  ?  Where  does  he  come 
from?" 

"  That  is  what  everybody  has  been  eagerly 
inquiring.  At  last  Mr.  Linkum,  fearing  that  un- 
satisfied curiosity  would  be  injurious  to  our 
general  health,  kindly  administered  relief.  The 
neophyte's  father  owns  a  hanosome  estate  in 
Devonshire,  and  there  resides.  He  made  his 
gold  out  of  iron,  and  is  connected  with  The  Low 
Moor  Iron  Company.  Of  course,  he  is  old- 
fashioned  and  prim,  and  cherishes  exploded 
notions.  This  is  his  only  son.  He  is  college 
bred — went  from  Eton  to  Oxford — has  been 
2* 


18  TWIN  il- 

liberally supplied  with  funds  and  indulged  in 
all  imaginable  whims.  He  came  to  London  a 
few  weeks  ago— took  the  stage  fever — pro- 
nounced himself  incurable— consequently  must 
become  an  actor.  I  suppose  the  old  governor 
at  home  will  get  up  a  domestic  earthquake  when 
he  hears  the  news.  The  young  man  has  bought 
the  house  from  Mr.  Linkum  for  one  night,  as  he 
could  not  obtain  an  appearance  in  any  other 
way; — pays  some  round  figures  for  his  experi- 
ment, I'll  wager.  Next  week  he  is  to  give  us 
such  a  Hamlet  as  the  world  never  saw.  I  don't 
doubt  it !  It  will  be  good  fun,  I  tell  you,  judg- 
ing by  the  rehearsal." 

Dorothy  broke  out  into  another  fit  of  laughter 
at  the  recollection. 

She  was  the  boy-heroine  of  the  company : 
The  representative  of  all  the  pages,  mischievous 
boys,  dashing  youths;  the  Sniikes,  the  Grinders, 
the  Oliver  Twists,  She  was  somewhat  diminu- 
tive in  stature,  and  very  plump,  but  finely  pro- 
portioned. That  she  was  instinctively,  unarti- 
ficially  masculine,  cannot  be  denied  ;  but  it  was 
masculine  on  a  small  scale.  Her  only  feminine 
trait  .li.-phiycd  itself  in  her  intense  love  for  her 
brother.  That  puny  stripling  occupied  the  posi- 
tion of  second  low  comedian  in  the  theatre. 


TWIN   ROSES.  19 

Nature,  in  one  of  her  many  frolics,  had  given  to 
the  sister  the  manly,  independent  spirit  formed 
to  battle  with  circumstances  and  the  world — to 
the  brother  the  soft  and  yielding  character  that 
belongs  to  womanhood. 

"  How  I  wish  Jessie  were  here  to  see  this  hand- 
some crazy-brains,"  said  Dolly,  "  don't  you  miss 
her,  Jeannie  ?  " 

"  Every  hour — every  minute,"  replied  Jeannie. 

"  Somebody  else  misses  her  not  a  little,"  re- 
plied Dorothy  significantly.  "  Sylvester,  ever 
since  she  left,  goes  moping  about  as  though  he 
were  looking  for  something  belonging  to  him 
which  he  could  not  find.  Poor  fellow !  He  really 
is  infatuated  about  that  girl,  and  I  hope  his  de- 
votion will  be  rewarded  one  of  these  days." 

"  I  think  not,  Dorothy,"  answered  Jeannie  with 
seriousness.  "  You  know  Jessie's  views — you 
know  she  has  rejected  suitors  in  abundance.  She 
will  never  marry  until  she  feels  so  strong  an 
attraction  to  some  human  being  that  she  recog- 
nizes an  internal  similitude — a  harmony  of  spirit 
which  will  be  a  lasting  bond  of  union." 

"  Oh,  bother !  There  you  go  with  your  high- 
flown  nonsense  about  affinity  of  spirits.  All 
visionary  stuff.  I  wonder  girls  of  so  much  sense 
can  talk  so  ridiculously.  I  suppose  there  is  some 


20  TWIN   ROSES. 

spirit  floating  about  in  space  that  has  an  affinity 
with  mine — is  there  not  ?  I  should  like  to  light 
upon  him — that's  all !  Don't  you  think  I  will  ?  " 

"  Why  should  I  tell  you  what  I  think,  Dolly? 
You  would  only  sneer.  Hear  Bulbul  singing." 

"  You  won't  throw  your  pearls  to  swine,  you 
mean,"  answered  Dorothy.  "  Very  good.  I  dare 
say  that  I  could  not  string  them  into  any  shape 
that  I  could  wear." 

Dorothy,  after  a  few  more  jesting  remarks, 
withdrew. 

Jeannie  sat  alone  b'stening  to  the  warbling  of 
her  bird,  and,  as  she  embroidered  Hamlet's  "  inky 
cloak,"  involuntarily  picturing  to  herself  the  des- 
tined wearer,  and  musing  with  a  strange,  un- 
wonted fascination  upon  his  past  and  future. 


TWIN   ROSES.  21 


CHAPTER    II. 

HERMAN    AND    JEANNIE. 

HERMAN  LANDOR  was  an  enthusiast.  High- 
spirited — restless — impulsive — he  plunged  head- 
long in  pursuit  of  every  darling  object,  every 
ideal  happiness.  Excitement  was  his  existence. 
When  his  pulses  throbbed  tumultuously,  and  the 
impetuous  blood  darted  like  fiery  flashes  through 
his  quivering  veins,  then  only  he  seemed  to 
himself  to  live.  His  exuberant  energies  strug- 
gled for  some  outlet.  A  poetic  temperament, 
inflamed  by  the  fascination  of  the  drama,  im- 
pelled their  current  towards  the  stage.  He 
readily  persuaded  himself  that  he  was  designed 
for  and  destined  to  become  a  great  tragic  actor. 
If  he  labored  under  a  delusion,  he  soon  taught 
his  associates  of  the  hour  that  to  trifle  with  the 
cherished  hallucination — to  refuse  credence  to  his 
settled  conviction,  were  dangerous  amusements. 

At  his  second  rehearsal  the  cynical  Mr.  Hawk- 
wood,  who  personated  the  ghost  of  Hamlet's 
father,  sneeringly  asked  whether  Mr.  Landor  was 


•2'1  TWIN   ROSES. 

particularly  fond  of  Michaelmas  season.  This  is 
an  old  joke  among  Thespians,  but  Herman  was 
not  yet  one  of  the  initiated.  He  courteously 
inquired  the  meaning  of  Mr.  Hawkwood's  in- 
quiry. 

"  You  won't  object  to  sibilations  as  a  running 
accompaniment  when  you  are  doing  Hamlet  ?  " 
replied  he,  with  mock  gravity. 

Mr.  Hawkwood  did  not  quickly  forget  the 
flashing  eye  that  looked  into  his  as  Landor 
seized  him  with  the  grasp  of  a  young  Hercules, 
and  in  an  instant  transferred  his  locality  to  the 
orchestra,  exclaiming,  "  You  can  learn  another 
tune  there,  my  Mend." 

That  single  exhibition  of  spirit  and  muscular 
strength  spared  Herman  not  a  few  annoyances. 

The  actors  applauded  the  feat,  for  Hawkwood 
was  generally  detested.  His  growled-out  revenge 
broke  through  their  peals  of  laughter. 

The  business  of  the  scene  forced  him  to  return 
to  the  stage.  Landor  had  recovered  his  good- 
humor,  and  comported  himself  as  coolly  as 
though  nothing  extraordinary  had  occurred. 
Hawkwood  gave  him  one  threatening  glance 
ol  haired,  and  thru  resumed  his  part. 

The  warmth  and  frankness  of  Lander's  man- 
ners readily  captivated  his  theatrical  companions. 


TWIN   ROSES.  23 

By  the  time  his  third  rehearsal  was  over,  he  had 
made  friends  with  almost  every  individual  in  the 
establishment.  To  be  sure,  the  friendship  was 
of  a  rather  dubious  kind.  It  is  always  difficult 
to  conciliate  the  regular  members  of  the  company 
to  an  amateur;  but  the  charm  of  Lander's  ad- 
dress could  not  wholly  be  resisted. 

During  the  week  he  paid  frequent  visits  to  Mr. 
Brown,  and  finally  begged  to  be  allowed  to  see 
"  the  trappings  and  the  suits  of  woe  "  that  were 
to  bedeck  the  noble  Dane. 

On  this  occasion  Mrs.  Budd  chanced  to  be 
present.  She  added  her  entreaties  that  the  young 
gentleman  might  be  allowed  to  inspect  his  cos- 
tume, and  particularly  the  exquisite  embroidery 
executed  by  Jeannie  Garnett.  Had  Mr.  Landor 
ever  heard  of  poor  Jeannie  Garnett  ?  No  ?  Oh ! 
of  course  not — how  stupid  of  her  to  inquire. 

Then  Mrs.  Budd  drew  quite  a  romantic  sketch 
of  the  young  invalid.  Herman  was  quickly  in- 
terested. He  conceived  a  strong  desire  to  behold 
this  lovely  recluse — this  hidden  attic  flower — this 
"  diamond  in  a  dust  hole,"  as  Mrs.  Budd  fanci- 
fully styled  her. 

Mr.  Brown  looked  grave,  and  shook  his  head — 
he  did  not  like  his  employees  disturbed  at  their 
labors. 


24  TWIN    ROSES. 

We  cannot  explain  by  what  course  of  reason- 
ing Herman  overcame  the  costumer's  scruples, 
but  shortly  after  the  request  was  made,  Mrs. 
Budd  and  the  young  dramatic  candidate  were 
on  their  way  to  Jeannie's  apartments. 

There  was  quite  a  stir  in  the  wardrobe, — a  lift- 
ing of  bended  heads  and  of  wondering  eyes,  as 
they  passed  through.  Mrs.  Budd  opened  Jeannie's 
door,  but  left  the  young  man  standing  on  the 
outside. 

She  could  be  heard  asking  whether  Mr.  Lan- 
dor  might  not  be  permitted  to  admire  the  bugling 
of  his  Hamlet  cloak. 

Jeannie  probably  offered  to  hand  her  the 
mantle,  for  Mrs.  Budd  replied  in  her  hurried, 
noisy  way ; 

"  No — no— don't  leave  off  your  work.  I've  no 
time  to  carry  it  to  him,  so  I  brought  him  with  me. 
Dear  me !  dear  me  !  life's  too  short  for  one  to  be 
constantly  carrying  things  about  and  bringing 
them  back.  Come  in,  Mr.  Landor.  Here's  the 
nrnainrntal  bugling,  and  here  is  Miss  Garnett. 
Miss  .Irani lie  Garnett;  Miss  Jessie's  absent;  twin 
sisters  as  I  told  you.  There  !  look  at  the  trim- 
mint,',  ami  make  haste.  I've  no  time  for  clawd- 
ling." 

But  Herman    only  advanced  one  step  into  the 


TWIN    ROSES.  25 

apartment,  and  gazed  around  him  with  an  ex- 
pression of  mute  amazement.  The  bowered 
window — the  odorous  air — the  warbling  bird — 
the  simple,  tasteful  adornments  of  the  chamber — 
that  lovely,  recumbent  form — surely  he  beheld 
them  in  a  dream ! 

Jeannie  looked  up.  The  surprise  mirrored  on 
her  eloquent  countenance  might  have  changed  to 
admiration,  had  not  the  dropped  lids  quickly  veiled 
her  tell-tale  eyes. 

She  resumed  her  work  with  an  effort,  scattering 
the  bugles  in  her  attempt  to  string  them. 

Herman,  who  had  stood  motionless  for  an  in- 
stant, now  sprang  forward  and  stooped  to  gather 
the  glittering  beads. 

There  was  ample  excuse  for  the  bowed  knee, 
but  it  was  strangely  in  accordance  with  his  sen- 
sations. For 

"  A  face  flashed  like  a  cymbal  on  his  face, 
And  shook  with  silent  clangour  brain  and  heart, 
Transfiguring  him  to  music." 

"  Come,  come,  make  haste,"  in  the  jarring 
tones  of  Mrs.  Budd,  broke  the  harmony  of  two 
spirits  that  were  already  attuning  themselves  to 
each  other.  "  Look  at  the  work,  young  man,  and 
let's  be  going. — Time's  precious — lost  time  is 
3 


26  TWIN    KOSES. 

lost  money — neither  should   be  parted  with   too 
hastily." 

Herman  arose.  Jeannie  held  out  the  mantle, 
there  was  the  promise  of  a  smile  hovering  about 
her  lips. 

"  Beautiful !  most  beautiful !  "  he  exclaimed 
with  ardor — but  his  eyes  were  not  riveted  on  the 
embroidery. 

Jeannie  had  not  requested  him  to  be  seated, 
yet,  with  apparent  unconsciousness,  he  had  taken 
the  low  chair  that  always  stood  by  her  couch. 
The  velvet  mantle  was  in  his  hands — he  essayed 
to  scrutinize  the  design  with  which  it  was  bor- 
dered. 

"  Now,  you've  seen  it — and  this  pretty  little 
snuggery  up  here — let's  be  off! "  suggested  Mrs. 
Budd. 

Herman  gave  her  a  pleading  look. 

"  Oh  !  I  understand  that.  Young  folks  always 
in  haste  about  some  things,  and  not  about  others. 
It  makes  no  odds — I  can't  stay.  If  Miss  Jeannie 
will  allow  it,  you  may  take  your  own  time — but 
mine's  too  precious," 

••  Will  Miss  Jeannie  allow  me  to  remain  a  few 
minutes?  " 

niic  did  not  answer  immediately. 
-t — just  to  make  some  suggestions  about 
the  style — the  design  of  this  trimming  ?  " 


TWIN    ROSES.  27 

Jeannie's  reply  was  not  very  audible,  but  Her- 
man interpreted  it  into  an  assent 

"  Suit  yourselves,  young  people,  and  you'll  suit 
me.  Only  I  hope  I  havn't  been  doing  any  mis- 
chief, bringing  you  up  here,  young  man,  since  its 
so  hard  to  get  you  away.  I've  no  time  for  this 
sort  of  thing — make  haste  down,  will  you  ?  If 
Miss  Jeannie's  work  don't  progress  rapidly,  Mr. 
Brown  will  throw  the  blarne  on  me." 

Mrs.  Budd  disappeared,  very  properly  leaving 
the  door  which  opened  into  the  wardrobe  open. 

The  busy  group  who  sat  there,  without  any 
design  of  premeditated  eaves-dropping,  became 
silent. 

They  could  hear  the  full,  rich  tones  of  Herman, 
and  the  soft  voice  of  Jeannie  replying,  but  the 
bulfinch  sang  such  a  vociferous  welcome  to  the 
stranger,  that  only  a  word  now  and  then  was  dis- 
tinctly audible. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  Herman's  visit 
would  have  been  a  prolific  theme  for  laughter,  and 
sneering,  and  backbiting.  But  Jeannie's  helpful 
hands  had  often  made  their  tasks  easier — her 
comforting  words  had  rendered  their  grief-burdens 
lighter.  She  rejoiced  with  those  who  rejoiced, 
and  wept  with  those  who  wept.  She  had  the 
faculty  of  identifying  herself  with  the  interests  of 


28  TWIN    ROSES. 

others,  until  their  interests  became  her  own. 
Thus,  in  return,  they  felt  for  her  and  with  her. 
Far  from  jesting  at  the  singular  interview,  they 
only  hoped  that  the  stranger's  presence  might  re- 
lieve the  monotony  of  her  existence. 

Jeannie's  visitors  were  necessarily  received  in 
the  chamber  she  never  left ;  consequently  the  ad- 
mission of  Mr.  Landor  was  not  viewed  in  the 
light  of  an  impropriety. 

"  He's  right  handsome,  and  I  hope  he'll  come 
to  see  poor  Jeannie  often,"  whispered  the  giddy 
Liza. 

The  needlewomen  laughed  assent. 

They  heard  Herman  rise  to  depart.  He  seemed 
to  be  pleading  for  something.  They  could  not 
distinguish  whether  his  petition  were  granted  or 
refused.  Then  he  asked  in  a  more  audible  key 
whether  he  might  return  to  see  Jeannie — but  cor- 
rected himself,  stammering  and  laughing — to 
watch  the  progress  of  the  embroidery,  he  should 
have  said. 

Here  Liza  tittered  with  such  delight  that  they 
could  hear  no  answer;  perhaps  none  was  given. 

The  glow  of  triumph  upon  Herman's  animated 
countenance  as  he  passed  out  of  the  chamber — 
the  quirk,  clastic  tread  with  which  he  traversed 
the  wardrobe,  indicated  that  the  request  had  not 
been  denied. 


TWIN   ROSES.  29 

He  bowed  politely  to  the  needlewomen,  and 
retired. 

Soon  after,  Liza  entered  Jeannie's  apartment. 
She  found  her  sitting,  lost  in  thought.  Her  up- 
raised eyes  were  filled  with  tears.  A  faint,  rose- 
ate tinge  suffused  her  usually  pallid  face — voice- 
less words  seemed  to  issue  from  her  parted  and 
slightly  moving  lips — her  work  had  fallen  from 
her  clasped  hands  and  lay  upon  the  floor. 

She  started  as  Liza  advanced  into  the  room. 

«  What  is  it  ?  What  is  it,  Liza  ?  "  she  asked 
hastily. 

"  I  came  to  see  if  you  wanted  any  thing.  But 
what  ails  you  ?  You  have  dropped  your  work — 
are  you  ill  ?  Are  you  unhappy  ? 

There  was  a  little  sly  mischief  in  Liza's  queries. 

"  111  !  unhappy  !  oh,  no !  "  answered  Jeannie, 
with  an  intonation  that  seemed  to  convey  the  un- 
spoken works,  "  I  was  never  so  happy — never  so 
dreamily,  thrillingly,  perfectly  happy." 

She  tried  to  resume  her  occupation. 

For  a  few  moments  this  appeared  to  be  diffi- 
cult. Then  perhaps  she  remembered  for  whom 
that  flowery  design  was  wrought,  for  the  work 
was  held  more  tightly  in  her  hands  and  she  bent 
over  it  with  deeper  interest. 

Day  after  day,  Herman  Landor  returned.     At 

3* 


80  TWIN   ROSES. 

first  he  made  some  transparent  excuse,  but  soon 
his  visits  became  a  matter  of  daily  expecta- 
tion. 

He  was  one  of  those  beings  who  receive  im- 
pressions with  electrical  rapidity.  All  his  actions 
were  prompt,  bold,  and  defiant  of  future  conse- 
quences. Spontaneity  was  his  chief  character- 
istic. 

No  language  was  needed  to  tell  Jeannie  that 
Herman  loved  her — no  words  to  inform  him  that 
he  had  found  the  golden  key  which  unlocked  the 
inmost  chamber  of  her  soul.  Her  heart  gave  out 
its  love  unconsciously  as  flowers  exhale  their 
perfume — as  leaves  shed  then:  dew. 

The  lovers  formed  no  definite  plans.  Jeannie's 
helplessness  had  prevented  her  contemplating  the 
possibility  of  marriage — but  now  there  seemed  a 
health-imparting  vitality  communicated  by  Her- 
man's loving  words.  Already  his  thoughtful  ten- 
derness had  ameliorated  her  condition.  A  veloci- 
pede chair  enabled  her  to  move  at  will  about 
h«-r  own  and  the  adjacent  apartment.  Herman 
had  sent  itwilh  the  hopeful,  suggestive  request 
that  it  \vould  be  used  until  she  needed  it  no 
longir.  His  sanguine  spirit  caused  him  con- 
s.t:mily  to  look  fonvard  to  her  thorough  restora- 
tion. Iinpin-d  by  his  confidence,  she  sometimes 


TWIN   ROSES.  31 

beguiled  herself  into  the  belief  that  this  happy 
period  was  one  which  might — which  must  arrive. 

Jeannie's  chair  enabled  her  frequently  to  join 
the  busy  group  assembled  in  the  wardrobe. 
"  Here  comes  Jeannie !  "  was  a  salutation  always 
gladly  uttered.  They  all  felt — what  Liza  alone 
told  her — that  the  room  grew  brighter  and 
warmer  when  she  entered,  as  though  a  visible 
radiance  emanated  from  her — that  her  presence 
was  like  a  sudden  stream  of  sunshine  breaking 
through  a  stormy  sky. 

"  And  stilling  even  Mr.  Brown's  thunder ! " 
added  one  of  the  women ;  "  for  there  is  no  one 
but  Jeannie  who  can  do  that." 

Jeannie  had  frequent  tidings  from  Jessie.  She 
delighted  in  communicating  them  to  Herman, 
and  in  discoursing  fondly  of  that  heart-sister. 
He  listened  with  his  speaking  eyes  fastened 
admiringly  on  her  face,  and  sometimes  replied, 
"  I  must  surely  love  her  if  she  resembles  you  as 
much  as  they  say  she  does." 

Jeannie's  letters  to  her  sister  grew  shorter  after 
her  acquaintance  with  Herman.  She  wrote  of 
his  pleasant  society — his  daily  floral  tokens — the 
invaluable  chair  he  had  sent  her — the  books  with 
which  he  supplied  her,  but  she  could  find  no  lan- 
guage to  communicate  more  on  paper. 


32  TWIN    ROSES. 

It  never  occurred  to  Jessie  that  he  was  a  suitor 
of  her  sisters.  She  replied  in  her  earnest  way, 
"  I  love  that  unknown  friend  already  for  his  kind- 
ness to  you." 

Mr.  Brown  grumbled  at  the  invasion  of  the 
stage  novice  into  his  dominion.  He  sternly  in- 
formed Mrs.  Budd  that  she  had  too  strong  a  pro- 
pensity for  bringing  people  together — she  had 
treacherously  opened  the  doors  to  this  young 
man  and  unpleasant  consequences  might  ensue. 
Mrs.  Budd  was  duly  contrite,  but  failed  in  her 
attempts  to  close  the  gates  against  the  enemy  she 
had  admitted. 

Jeannie's  design  for  this  particular  dress,  Mr. 
Brown  found  needlessly  elaborate.  And  what 
time  she  had  consumed  in  executing  the  work ! 
Never  had  she  been  so  dilatory  before.  Then  he 
could  not  comprehend  the  meaning  of  those  em- 
blematical devices. 

As  the  disguised  Imogen  carved  into  fantastic 
shapes  the  roots  she  cooked  for  her  unknown 
brothers,  so  Jeannie's  imagination  and  loving 
nature  found  expression  through  the  humble 
medium  of  her  needle. 

The  night  of  II m  nan's  expected  debut  was 
postponed  from  week  to  week.  The  manager 
found  that  he  could  not  break  in  upon  pressing 


TWIN   ROSES.  33 

and  more  lucrative  engagements.  Herman  was 
quite  satisfied  with  the  delay.  The  Hamlet  dress 
was  completed  long  before  it  was  required. 

When  Herman  Landor  in  his  simplicity  of 
heart  told  Dorothy  that  there  was  an  affinity 
between  his  character  and  that  of  the  melan- 
choly, grief-crazed  Hamlet,  he  should  have  said 
that  his  intense  admiration  for  Shakspeare's  won- 
drous creation  had  excited  a  strong  sympathy 
with  all  Hamlet's  changing  moods.  To  mistake 
the  character  of  the  noble  Dane  for  a  type  of  his 
own,  was  a  very  common  error  among  histrionic 
aspirants.  Few  of  them  fail  to  imagine  that 
they  recognize  their  own  portraits  sketched  by 
the  master-hand  of  the  great  dramatist.  It  is 
one  of  the  evidences  of  the  vitality  and  reality 
of  his  ideal  pictures. 

In  Jeannie's  presence  Herman  quite  forgot  the 
passing  infatuation. 

At  last  the  night  for  the  dSbut  was  definitely 
fixed.  Herman  saw  his  name  pompously  pla- 
carded throughout  the  streets  and  announced  in 
the  principal  journals.  On  the  following  night 
he  was  to  be  tried  before  the  critic's  merciless 
tribunal  and  weighed  in  the  uncertain  scale  of 
popular  favor. 

Doubts  and  fears  of  the  final  decision  he  had 
none. 


34  TWIN   ROSES. 

He  earnestly  entreated  Jeannie  to  allow  herself 
to  be  carried  down  to  the  wing  to  witness  his 
triumph. 

If  she  had  consented,  it  would  have  been  with 
the  hope  of  consoling  and  cheering  him,  should 
his  powers  not  keep  pace  with  his  soaring  am- 
bition. Her  knowledge  of  the  profession,  its 
exigencies  and  difficulties,  filled  her  mind  with 
anxiety.  But  she  resisted  his  supplication.  She 
had  never  beheld  the  stage  since  the  night  of 
that  fearful  catastrophe.  She  was  not  certain  of 
her  own  self-command.  Her  want  of  composure 
might  destroy  Herman's  equanimity — might  im- 
peril rather  than  contribute  to  his  success.  Her 
thoughts — her  prayers,  would  circle  him  round, 
but  she  must  abide  in  her  remote  little  chamber, 
and  patiently  await  some  messenger  of  good 
tidings. 


TWIN   ROSES.  35 


CHAPTER  in. 

A    SERPENT    TONGUE. 

HERMAN  duly  communicated  his  dramatic 
aspirations  and  intentions  to  his  father.  Mr. 
Landor,  senior,  had  received  so  many  proofs  of 
his  son's  unquiet,  excitement-loving  disposition, 
that  he  was  inclined  to  look  upon  this  histrionic 
venture  in  the  light  of  a  youthful  frolic. 

Grave,  kind  letters  of  remonstrance  were  care- 
fully written  by  the  father.  Glowing  rhapsodies 
on  the  beauties  of  dramatic  bards — the  social 
influence  of  the  drama — the  glorious  career  of 
the  actor,  were  returned,  in  reply,  by  the  son. 

Herman  inherited  from  his  mother  an  organi- 
zation highly  sensitive  to  all  beautiful  impres- 
sions ;  exuberant  spirits — a  vehement,  volcanic 
temperament.  But  this  sudden  passion  for  the 
stage  had  certainly  never  been  transmitted  to 
him  by  -either  parent.  Very  slight  was  their 
acquaintance  with  the  drama.  Their  visits  to 
London  had  usually  been  made  a  little  after  the 
holiday  season.  They  had  witnessed  sundry 


36  TWIN  ROSES. 

pantomimes  and  extravaganzas,  within  the  walls 
of  a  theatre,  but  few  representations  of  more 
elevated  character. 

Mr.  Landor  had  amassed  a  large  fortune  by 
his  transactions  in  iron.  He  was  anticipating  a 
peaceful  retirement  from  the  turmoil  of  business 
as  soon  as  his  son  was  prepared  to  assume  his 
duties. 

At  an  early  age  Herman  had  exhibited  scholarly 
tastes.  After  many  urgent  entreaties,  his  father 
gratified  his  youthful  ambition,  by  placing  him  at 
Eton  ;  from  thence  he  made  his  way  to  Oxford, 
and  graduated  with  distinction. 

On  his  return  to  Devonshire  he  passed  a  few 
weeks  conjugating  the  verb  s*ennuyer,  under  the 
paternal  roof,  and  then  started  to  make  the  tour 
of  the  British  Isles.  On  the  eve  of  extending  his 
wanderings  to  the  continent,  his  plans  were 
changed,  during  a  sojourn  in  London,  by  the  sud- 
den passion  for  the  stage  which  we  have  de- 
scribed. 

Mr.  Landor  entertained  strong  doubts  that  his 

son's  wild  project  would  be  carried  into  execution. 

Consequently,  when   the   announcement   in   the 

London  journals  reached  Devonshire,  both  parents 

••  thrown  into  a  state  of  sudden  cousin-nation. 

ripples  had  ever  stirred  the  smooth  current 


TWIN    ROSES.  37 

of  their  lives.  "Well  might  this  startling  event 
agitate  the  placid  waters,  and  toss  the  perplexed 
couple  on  a  sea  of  doubt  and  anxiety. 

Their  hearts  were  fresh  and  simple — unhard- 
ened  by  contact  with  the  world.  They  knew 
much  of  nature,  very  little  of  human  nature. 

That  very  night  Mr.  Landor  started  for  the 
metropolis.  He  would  argue  with  his  son — he 
would  bring  him  to  reason ;  if  he  could  not 
prevent  this  unfortunate  public  appearance,  he 
would,  at  least,  carry  him  home  as  soon  as  the 
jest  was  over. 

It  could  not  be  said  that  Mr.  Lander's  mind 
was  wholly  untainted  by  the  popular  prejudice 
against  the  theatrical  profession,  but  that  preju- 
dice was  not  deeply  rooted.  He  acknowledged 
his  own  ignorance,  and  his  innate  sense  of  justice 
was  too  full  of  vitality  to  allow  him  to  adopt  a 
rash,  unauthorized  opinion. 

He  reached  his  son's  lodgings  on  the  morning 
of  the  expected  debut. 

Mr.  Landor  found  Herman  animatedly  declaim- 
ing Hamlet's  soliloquy.  He  broke  off  to  welcome 
his  father,  with  unsuspecting  warmth.  His  ex- 
ultant mood  was  only  heightened  by  Mr.  Lander's 
arrival.  It  was  so  kind  of  him,  Herman  said,  to 
be  present  on  the  great  occasion — the  proudest 

4 


88  TWIN   ROSES. 

day  of  his  existence — the  day  which  would  usher 
in  a  night  of  triumph ! 

Mr.  Landor  saw  that  argument  would  be 
thrown  away  at  this  crisis.  He  only,  with  great 
simplicity,  asked  Herman  to  promise  that  he 
would  return  to  Devonshire  the  next  day. 

The  young  enthusiast  replied  by  painting  in 
vivid  colors  the  attractions  of  theatrical  life,  and 
descanting  upon  the  votaries  of  Thespis  them- 
selves, as  though  all  the  virtues  were  monopolized 
by  and  concentrated  in  their  persons. 

"  Ah  !  my  son !  you  are  so  easily  deceived — so 
unsuspecting!  That's  not  the  account  I  have 
heard.  I  wish  you  had  nothing  to  do  with  these 
people ;  or  I  hope  that  it  will  all  be  over  after 
to-night  Have  your  frolic  out,  and  go  home 
^  ith  me  to-morrow." 

"  Wait  until  to-night  is  over — to-morrow  you 
may  not  renew  that  request,"  replied  Herman 
confidently.  "  It's  just  the  hour  for  rehearsal — I 
must  be  going." 

Mr.  Landor  pondered  a  long  time  after  Herman 
left  Finally,  he  determined  to  try  and  fall  in 
with  some  of  those  mysterious  beings  who  dwelt 
behind  the  curtain,  and  with  whom  his  son  was 
associated.  He  remembered  to  have  heard  a 
certain  eating  saloon  mentioned  as  the  one  in 


TWIN    ROSES.  39 

which  actors,  who  had  no  wives  at  home,  con- 
gregated to  dine.  He  sought  the  place  at  an 
early  hour — secured  a  seat  that  commanded  a 
good  view  of  the  room,  and  tipped  one  of  the 
waiters  to  point  out  the  actors  when  they  en- 
tered. 

The  members  of  several  companies  poured  in 
before  long. 

One  of  the  party,  a  man  whose  head  was 
white  as  Mr.  Lander's  own,  called  for  his  dinner 
at  a  table  not  far  from  his. 

The  latter  was  reminded  to  order  his  own  re- 
past, but  it  stood  untasted  before  him. 

He  was  seeking  for  some  avenue  that  might 
open  to  a  conversation  with  his  neighbor. 

The  actor  had  nearly  concluded  his  rapid  meal. 
In  a  few  moments  he  might  be  gone — the  oppor- 
tunity would  be  lost. 

Mr.  Landor  suddenly  rose,  with  his  pewter  pot 
of  half  and  half  in  his  hand.  He  approached  Mr. 
Hawkwood — bowed  with  timid  courtesy,  and 
placed  the  mug  on  the  latter's  table.  The  actor's 
name  had  been  communicated  by  the  waiter. 
Mr.  Landor  seated  himself,  and  made  an  em- 
barrassed apology  as  he  offered  the  beverage, 
which  it  is  not  unusual,  in  England,  for  two 
persons  to  imbibe  out  of  the  same  vessel. 


40  TWIN    ROSES. 

There  was  a  striking  dissimilarity  between  the 
two  old  men.  The  benign  face,  smooth,  ample 
brow,  and  simple  manners  of  the  country  gentle- 
man became  impressive  in  their  calm  dignity 
when  thrown  in  contrast  with  the  sharply  fur- 
rowed, hard  visage,  the  speculative  eyes,  the 
sneering,  thin-lipped  mouth  of  the  player. 

Mr.  Hawkwood  was  a  man  impervious  to  all 
kind  feeling,  and  to  all  sentiment ;  a  being  who 
distrusted  the  motives  of  the  whole  world — who 
looked  for  guile  under  the  fairest  forms.  In  one 
thing  he  was  thoroughly  honest — his  disbelief  of 
honesty  itself,  unallied  with  policy. 

Mr.  Landor,  on  the  contrary,  was  a  stranger  to 
dissimulation.  He  never  thought  of  obtaining  a 
desired  object  save  in  a  frank,  straight-forward 
manner.  He  told  Mr.  Hawkwood  at  once  that 
he  had  sought  his  acquaintance  to  inquire  about 
one  Herman  Landor,  who  was  announced  on  the 
play  bills  to  make  his  appearance  that  night  as 
Hamlet 

Hawkwood  had  not  forgotten  the  summary 
treatment  he  had  received  at  Herman's  hands  on 
ilie  day  of  his  second  rehearsal.  There  was  no 
n-ity  of  forgiveness  in  his  nature.  He  had 
wain-d  patiently  for  the  hour  of  revenge.  He 
well  knew  that  his  professional  relationship  to- 


TWIN    ROSES.  41 

wards  Herman  would  offer  opportunities  in 
abundance.  He  now  gave  his  opinion  of  Her- 
man in  the  most  unsparing  terms  of  contempt. 

"  You  think  that  the  boy  will  make  an  ass 
of  himself — will  fail  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Land  or  quietly. 

"  No  question  of  it ;  I  took  the  gauge  of  his 
talents  the  first  day  we  met.  A  presumptuous, 
inflated  coxcomb.  He  pays  an  enormous  sum 
for  the  house,  or  he  could  never  have  obtained  an 
appearance.  He  is  so  thickly  mailed  in  conceit 
that  the  shafts  of  ridicule  don't  reach  him.  He 
don't  see  that  he  is  the  laughing-stock  of  the 
whole  company." 

"  He  will  fail !  It  will  cure  him  of  wanting  to 
be  an  actor!"  said  Mr.  Landor,  in  a  tone  of 
relief. 

"  Can't  answer  for  that.  Once  bitten  with  the 
stage  mania  one  is  always  rabid  afterwards. 
But  he'll  get  a  dose  to-night  that  would  cure  any 
man  of  whose  recovery  there  was  hope." 

"  Will  it  seem  impertinent  to  you,  Sir,  if  I  ask 
your  opinion  of  your  own  profession — of  the 
theatre  as  an  institution?  I  confess  to  total 
ignorance  and  some  interest  on  the  subject." 

Who  does  not  know  that  from  the  same  flower 
that  yields  honey  to  the  bee,  the  spider  extracts 
poison?  Mr.  Hawkwood  possessed  in  an  emi- 

4# 


42  TWIN    ROSES. 

nent  degree  the  faculty  of  that  obnoxious  insect 
He  hated  his  profession — he  would  have  hated 
any  other,  for  his  heart  was  all  bitterness — his 
tongue  all  venom.  He  looked  through  a  dis- 
torted medium  that  made  the  fairest  pictures 
hideous.  He  could  see  through  no  other. 

"  My  opinion  of  it,"  he  answered  in  a  some- 
what measured  and  theatrical  tone,  for  his  vanity 
was  flattered;  "sir,  I  don't  believe  it  would  be 
easy  to  have  a  worse.  I  would  rather  be  a  wood- 
sawyer,  or  a  coal-heaver,  or  a  black-leg,  or  a  pick- 
pocket, than  an  actor.  If  I  had  children,  I'd 
rather  bring  them  up  in  an  almshouse  than  a 
theatre!" 

"  Bless  my  soul !  you  don't  say  so !  "  cried  Mr. 
Landor  aghast,  and  his  cheek  grew  pale  with 
genuine  horror.  "  Is  it  as  bad  as  all  that  ?  I 
am  shocked  indeed.  But — I  beg  your  pardon — 
you  belong  to  the  profession  yourself  ?  " 

"  Yes — of  course ;  that's  the  reason  I  know  it 
so  well ! " 

"  But  you  continue  in  it  ?  " 

"  Yes — of  course  ;  what's  a  man  to  do  ?  he 
inii-i  live.  I  don't  know  what  evil  fate  cast  me 
into  that  slough,  but  there's  no  struggling  one's 
way  out." 

"  Make  an  effort — make  the  endeavor,  my  dear 


TWIN  ROSES.  43 

sir;"  said  the  old  man  earnestly;  "never  tole- 
rate an  evil  that  you  can  remedy.  'There  are 
abundant  occupations  open  to  honest  and  willing 
hands.  Don't  remain  in  such  a  "wretched  state ! " 
he  pleaded  with  increased  earnestness.  "  I'd  try 
to  give  you  a  lift  myself.  You  might  be  a  clerk, 
might  you  not  ?  " 

A  cold,  satirical  smile  darted  about  Mr.  Hawk- 
wood's  lips  at  the  zealousness  of  this  unknown 
friend,  who  seemed  intent  upon  saving  him  from 
some  imminent  peril. 

"  No,  no — it's  too  late ;  I  must  go  on  as  I 
began." 

"  Never  too  late  t6  mend ;  never  too  late  while 
the  Lord  grants  us  life.  Take  heart,  man,  and 
tell  me  if  there's  nothing  to  which  you  could  turn 
your  hand." 

«  No — no,  thank  you.  I'm  bound  to  the  wheel 
— a  dramatic  Ixion — there  is  no  breaking  the 
chain,  or  dissolving  the  enchantment.  You  can't 
conceive  the  effect  of  this  profession  on  the  mind 
and  character.  We  may  hate  the  spell,  but 
cannot  free  ourselves.  Nay,  if  that  young,  stage- 
struck  donkey  had  wit  enough  to  make  a  hit  to 
night,  he'd  bind  himself — sell  himself  to  the  same 
magical  slavery.  The  only  hope  for  him  is  that 
he  will  make  a  fool  of  himself  and  get  disgusted 


44  TWIN   ROSES. 

at  the  want  of  discernment  of  the  public  who 
won't  discover  his  brilliant  worth." 

"  He  is  my  son,  sir — my  only  son !  "  replied 
Mr.  Landor  with  emotion.  "I  rejoice  that  you 
think  he  can  never  become  an  actor.  I  believe 
you  to  be  an  honest  man,  and  I  thank  you  for 
the  information  you  have  given  me  on  an  im- 
portant subject.  I  know  that  it  can  be  relied 
upon.  You  have  done  me  a  great  service,  Mr. 
Hawkwood.  As  for  my  son,  I  would  a  thousand 
times  rather  have  him  endure  the  mortification 
of  this  failure  than  have  him  run  the  risk  of  even 
desiring  to  enter  the  profession.  He  is  high- 
spirited — a  great  enthusiast,  sir,  and  the  disap- 
pointment will  tame  him  down.  That's  all  he 
needs.  A  noble  boy,  but  too  fond  of  excitement 
— too  unsteady,  and  not  content  to  walk  in  the 
same  track  that  those  who  went  before  him  found 
good  enough.  Ah!  well,  we  were  all  young 
once." 

"  Yes — and  I  don't  see  what  good  it  did  us  ;" 
remarked  Mr.  Hawkwood  drily.  "  Since  this 
youngster's  your  son,  I'll  keep  an  eye  on  him  for 
your  sake,  sir."  There  was  a  malicious  twinkle 
in  Mr.  Hawk  wood's  snaky  eyes  as  he  spoke, 
th;it  might  have  conveyed  to  a  more  sophis- 
ticated observer  than  Lander's  the  kind  of  eye 
he  would  probably  keep. 


TWIN  ROSES.  45 

"  Sir,  you  make  me  your  debtor — I  thank  you 
from  my  soul !  "  and  the  father  shook  the  wily 
actor's  hand.  "  The  boy  is  very  dear  to  us — our 
only  child  ; — you  will  help  me  to  save  him  from 
this  terrible  fate,  at  all  hazards.  If  he  were  to 
persist  in  becoming  an  actor,  I  would  wholly 
discard  him — that  would  bring  him  to  reason. 
But  it  would  be  dreadful  for  his  motKer  to  bear — 
and  hard  on  me,  very  hard ;  but  I  would  do  my 
duty  without  flinching." 

"  It  would  be  harder,  I  fancy,  to  see  him  be- 
come a  low,  unprincipled  fellow  of  the  same 
stamp  as  most  of  his  companions." 

"  Yes — yes  ;  there  it  is — the  association,  the 
association  is  so  dangerous  ;  he  must  break  that 
off'  at  once.  I  will  talk  to  him  to-morrow — it 
would  be  useless  to-day.  I  cannot  go  to  see  him 
play  the  harlequin  to  night — I  couldn't  stand 
it ; — but  perhaps  you  will  have  the  goodness  to 
meet  me  here  after  the  play.  I  will  esteem  it  a 
great  favor.  I  can  trust  your  account." 

"  Certainly,  certainly,  Mr.  Landor." 

"  I  do  not  know  how  I  can  repay  you ! "  said 
Mr.  Landor  gratefully.  "  It  may  be  in  my  power 
some  day.  This  evening  I  will  expect  you." 

And  thus  parted  the  grey-haired  deceiver  and 
his  venerable,  simple-hearted  dupe. 


46  TWIN  ROSES. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

DEARLY-BOUGHT    EXPERIENCE. 

JEANNIE  sat  in  her  lonely  chamber.  Ten 
o'clock  had  sounded  from  the  neighboring  steeple, 
and  still  no  tidings  of  the  debutant — but  Hamlet 
is  a  long  play.  The  door  of  her  apartment,  and 
that  of  the  now  deserted  wardrobe  adjoining, 
stood  open.  With  love-quickened  ears  she  lis- 
tened to  the  far-off  sounds  that  now  and  then 
rose,  even  to  her  remote  retreat.  They  were  con- 
fused and  indistinct.  Ah!  would  that  they 
might  be  the  thundered  plaudits — the  clamorous 
ecstacies  of  the  crowd,  though  they  only  reached 
her  in  faint  echoes ! 

She  grew  anxious — restless ;  she  could  not 
work  ;  she  tried  to  read.  Books  to  her  were  liv- 
ing friends — the  wisest,  best  beloved  of  tutors — 
tlu;  gentlest  of  comforters — immortal  companions, 
to  whom  she  could  always  turn  and  find  them 
waiting  to  shed  their  cheering,  strengthening, 
elevating  influence  upon  her  spirit  But  now 
she  listlessly  turned  leaf  after  leaf — her  ears 


TWIN  ROSES.  4T 

could  not  hearken  to  the  voice  that  spoke  from 
their  pages.  At  last  she  reverently  lifted  one 
volume  which  had  its  place  apart — sacred  in  its 
very  locality.  Very  soon  a  soft,  peaceful  ex- 
pression stole  over  her  hitherto  disturbed  coun- 
tenance as  she  pondered  on 

"  Laws  which  holy  writ  unfold 
Worthy  to  be  graved  in  gold." 

She  was  comforted.  She  forgot  her  hopes  and 
fears  for  Herman.  The  higher  love  absorbed  the 
lower — the  temporal  was  swallowed  up  by  the 
eternal. 

There  came  a  sound  of  rapid  feet  on  the  stair. 
They  mounted  very  fast.  The  steps  were  too 
heavy  for  those  of  any  of  the  needle-women  who 
sewed  in  the  wardrobe.  Jeannie  closed  her 
book.  Her  breath  came  short  and  thick,  and  her 
eyes  were  riveted  on  the  door.  She  half  sprang 
up  as  the  figure  of  a  young  man,  booted  and 
spurred,  rushed  into  the  room. 

In  her  surprise  and  agitation  she  did  not  recog- 
nize the  youth,  until  she  heard  Dorothy's  hila- 
rious voice.  Dolly  had  made  her  toilette  for 
some  boy-hero  of  the  farce  at  an  early  hour,  that 
she  might  watch  the  performance  of  Hamlet  to 
its  close. 


48  TWIN  ROSES. 

"  Your  make-up  is  so  perfect  that  you  quite 
startled  me,  Dolly,"  said  Jeannie  laughing.  "  But 
speak  quickly  if  you  bring  the  music  of  good 
news." 

"  Let  me  get  my  breath,  will  you  ?  Jeannie, 
Jeannie,  such  fun !  Just  as  I  predicted  !  Oh  ! 
what  a  pity  that  you  lost  the  sport !  I  shall  have 
something  to  make  me  laugh  as  long  as  I  live. 
I  should  laugh  though  I  were  dying,  if  I  only 
thought  of  to-night's  doings.  As  for  the  audi- 
ence, it's  a  mercy  some  of  them  didn't  expire 
outright ! " 

"Then  he  has  failed!"  exclaimed  Jeannie 
tremulously. 

"Failed?  That's  not  the  word!  There  was 
no  chance  of  his  succeeding.  We  have  had  the 
most  amusing  travestie  of  Hamlet  that  was  ever 
witnessed.  I  never  saw  an  audience  more  de- 
lighted. The  pit  and  galleries  joined  the  actors 
in  guying  the  Danish  Prince  from  the  beginning 
to  the  end  of  his  original  personation.  Why,  my 
dear,  they  even  encored  his  combat  and  begged 
him  to  die  over  again!  Some  wags  in  the  gal- 
Irry  gave  vivd  voce  imitations  of  his  very  key 
notes.  The  pit,  now  and  then,  prompted  him 
when  he  made  a  long  p;uise — no  doubt  to  pro- 
duce some  premeditated  effect  of  his  own  aston- 


TWIN  ROSES.  49 

ishing  conception.  There  was  one  man  who 
actually  recited  a  passage  before  the  would-be 
Hamlet  came  to  it,  with  the  most  precise  mimick- 
ing of  his  delivery. 

"  How  he  must  have  suffered ! "  sighed  Jeannie 
in  a  low  tone. 

"  Oh !  I  suppose  so ;  fun  to  the  boys  but  death 
to  the  frogs,  you  know.  But  don't  look  so  down- 
hearted, though  he  is  a  good  friend  of  yours. 
Matters  might  have  been  worse.  The  audience 
might  have  hissed  him  in  good  earnest,  might 
have  hissed  him  off!  That  would  have  been  a 
disgrace.  Now  it's  all  a  joke.  The  people  are 
delighted  with  him  for  amusing  them  by  making 
a  fool  of  himself.  Look  on  the  bright  side,  my 
dear,  it  might  have  been  worse." 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  but  go  on,  tell  me  all." 

"  I  only  wish  that  I  had  time.  Curtain  has 
just  rung  down,  farce  will  be  on  in  ten  minutes, 
and  I  am  in  the  second  scene.  In  the  first  place 
you  never  saw  a  piece  of  male  humanity  look 
more  magnificent  than  he  did  in  his  stage 
bravery.  He  was  a  picture — only  it  was  the 
picture  of  a  disguised  Alcibiades,  not  a  Hamlet. 
He  seemed  quite  self-possessed — dare  say  he  was 
equally  self-satisfied.  But  the  moment  he  walked 
on  the  stage,  his  face,  and  you  know  it's  usually 
5 


50  TWIN   ROSES. 

jnst  like  a  mirror  with  changing  scenes  flying 
across — well,  his  face  became  perfectly  stony  ; — 
lost  all  sort  of  expression.  His  eyes  stared  va- 
cantly— his  mouth  was  drawn  down — he  looked 
like  a  man  struck  dumb  or  walking  in  his  sleep. 
The  actors  played  all  sorts  of  pranks  upon  him. 
You  should  have  seen  Hawkwood,  as  the  ghost, 
turning  his  back  to  the  audience  and  putting 
his  right  thumb  to  his  nose  and  extending  his 
fingers  with  the  left  thumb  to  the  little  finger  of 
the  right  hand — this  fashion — but  delivering  the 
text  with  mock  gravity.  Landor  looked  con- 
founded— but  he  did  not  laugh  as  Hawkwood 
meant  that  he  should.  I  was  half  afraid  the 
young  Nemean  lion  would  fling  him  into  the 
pit.  You  remember  that  he  has  a  fine,  full- 
toned  voice,  but,  when  he  tried  to  speak,  I  assure 
you  it  seemed  to  have  run  down  into  his  shoes 
and  had  to  be  forcibly  pumped  up.  The  queen 
mother  patted  him  maternally  on  the  shoulder, 
and  the  kingly  step-father  made  the  audience 
shout  by  his  mock  encouragement.  Even  Ophe- 
lia rendered  his  madness  more  ludicrously  mad 
by  her  comical  way  of  staring  at  him.  Then  the 
first  grave-digger,  with  whose  exit  he  found  fault 
at  rehearsal,  chose,  at  night,  to  make  his  exit  into 
the  grave  and  wouldn't  come  out.  It  was  a  rich 


TWIN   HOSES.  51 

scene!  But  I  warrant  Lander's  cured  of  his 
infatuation.  There — I  must  go — more  to-mor- 
row. Don't  look  so  sorrowful — it  might  have 
been  worse.  Look  at  the  bright  side,  I  tell  you." 

Jeannie  shook  her  head. 

"  Oh!  yes,  it  might  be  worse.  By  the  way,  I 
wish  you  could  have  seen  Sylvester  to-night. 
The  dear  fellow  really  showed  talent  as  the 
second  grave-digger.  Jessie  would  have  been 
compelled  to  admit  that  there's  a  deal  of  stuff 
in  him.  She  might  do  worse  than  marry  Sylly. 
I'm  sure  he's  worthy  of  even  her.  But  I'm  afraid 
the  curtain  has  risen,  so  good-bye." 

Dorothy,  with  clattering  boots,  ran  down  the 
stair  again. 

Jeannie  sat,  lost  in  thought,  until  the  sewing 
women,  who  had  all  wandered  down  to  witness 
the  debut,  returned  to  their  work.  They  pro- 
posed to  make  up  for  lost  time  by  stitching 
away  a  few  hours  longer  that  night. 

Their  jokes  struck  harshly  upon  poor  Jeannie's 
ears.  Not  one  of  them  seemed  to  have  the  least 
pity  for  the  unlucky  debutant,  though  they  all 
esteemed  and  liked  Herman. 

Stage  fright  generally  excites  as  little  commis- 
eration as  sea  sickness,  yet  is  even  more  soul- 
trying  in  its  effects. 


52  TWIN   ROSES. 

Jeannie  begged  Liza  to  close  the  door.  Then 
Liza  came  in  to  assist  her  in  disrobing — for  this 
was  her  especial  office  in  Jessie's  absence.  Liza 
could  not  but  notice  Jeannie's  dispirited  ex- 
pression of  countenance.  The  kind-hearted  girl 
divined  the  cause,  and,  stealing  out  of  the  room, 
silenced  the  noisy  tongues  in  the  wardrobe ;  for 
there  was  not  a  being  there  who  would  willingly 
have  given  Jeannie  pain. 

Herman,  as  may  be  imagined,  had  left  the 
theatre  in  a  state  bordering  on  despair. 

Man  like,  he  would  have  rested  the  burden  too 
heavy  for  him  to  bear  on  the  weaker  shoulders  of 
woman.  He  would  have  flown  to  Jeannie  for 
consolation ; — but  his  respect  would  not  permit 
him  to  break  through  the  rule  she  had  estab- 
lished. She  never  received  his  visits  in  the  eve- 
ning. He  had  not  been  able  to  induce  her  to 
make  an  exception  of  that  eventful  night.  He 
had  pleaded  to  be  allowed  to  come  to  her  in  the 
full  flush  of  his  triumph — to  cast  down  before 
her  the  laurels  he  had  won — and  to  find  his 
dearest  guerdon  in  the  joy  sparkling  in  her  eyes. 
If  he  had  looked  forward  to  success  as  lacking 
its  sweetest  element  because  he  could  not  at 
•  UK v  inakr  her  the  sharer  of  his  exultation,  how 
strong  must  have  been  his  impulse  to  seek  her 


TWIN   ROSES.  53 

cheering  presence  under  the  pressure  of  unlocked 
for  mortification 

On  Herman's  buoyant,  mercurial  tempera- 
ment, sad  and  disheartening  events  made  no 
deep  impression.  When  Jeannie  heard  his  step 
the  next  morning,  and  rose  to  greet  him  with 
words  and  looks  of  sympathy,  she  was  surprised 
to  find  his  countenance  so  much  less  grave  than 
she  anticipated. 

Never  is  woman  more  dear  to  man  than  when 
she  stands  before  him  in  the  guise  of  the  angel 
of  consolation,  her  legitimate  character — when 
her  tenderness  and  tact  fling  the  mantle  of  ob- 
livion over  baffled  hopes  and  mortified  vanity. 
Herman  felt  as  though  he  had  never  truly  loved 
Jeannie  until  that  hour. 

It  is  natural  to  suppose  that  the  unsuccessful 
debutant  would,  at  once,  have  abandoned  the 
scene  of  his  mortification.  Jeannie  urged  him 
to  do  so.  No — he  had  no  intention  of  the  kind. 
He  cited  numerous  instances  of  great  actors 
whose  first  appearances  were  failures,  but  who 
became  eminent  tragedians  at  a  later  day.  His 
plans  were  changed,  but  that  was  all.  He  would 
not  try  to  scale  the  ladder  at  one  bound.  He 
would  begin  at  the  lowest  step  and  mount 
upwards.  He  would  sign  an  engagement  that 

5* 

^ 


54  TWIN   ROSES. 

very    day    for    walking    gentleman,    at    a    low 
salary. 

"  Some  kinds  of  baseness 
Are  nobly  undergone." 

He  would  drudge  awhile,  and  earn  palms  worth 
winning,  through  toil  and  indomitable  persever- 
ance. And  he  would  always  be  near  his  inspira- 
tion— near  Jeannie !  His  was  not  a  character  to 
succumb,  to  be  conquered  by  obstacles.  This 
one  misstep  could  not  unseat  him  from  the 
unruly  dramatic  charger  he  had  backed.  Rat- 
tling on  in  this  style,  he  talked  himself  into 
positively  high  spirits. 

As  soon  as  he  left  Jeannie,  he  presented  him- 
self to  the  manager,  and,  in  a  manly,  ingenuous 
manner,  told  Mr.  Linkum  he  was  quite  aware 
that  he  had  made  a  fool  of  himself ;  he  was,  never- 
theless, determined  to  study  the  profession,  and 
requested  to  be  engaged  for  the  season. 

In  a  few  minutes  a  contract  was  drawn  out 
and  signed.  Herman's  name  was  enrolled  among 
those  of  the  regular  members  of  the  company  as 
walking  gentleman,  with  a  trifling  salary. 

Meantime  his  father  had  been  anxiously  seek- 
ing him. 

Mr.  Hawkwood  had  kept  his  appointment  on 
the  night  pn-vious,  and  communicated,  with 


TWIN   ROSES.  55 

malicious  exaggeration,  the  fulfilment  of  his  own 
prophecy.  In  his  usual  cynical,  satirical  style,  he 
helped  to  confirm  the  bad  impressions  he  had 
already  given  to  the  old  man. 

When  Herman  returned  to  his  lodgings,  after 
his  interview  with  Mr.  Linkum,  he  found  his 
father  impatiently  awaiting  him. 

The  old  man  greeted  his  son  with  a  kind  smile 
and  an  outstretched  hand. 

"  Well,  my  boy,  I  did  not  see  you  last  night. 
I  couldn't  do  that — but  I  heard  all  about  it.  I 
have  a  friend  who  gave  me  an  accurate  account. 
Cheer  up,  my  dear  fellow,  it  needn't  make  you 
downcast.  Your  mother  and  I  will  only  look 
upon  the  whole  affair  as  a  frolic,  well  ended. 
A  sowing  of  wild  oats  that  brought  up  a  sudden 
harvest  of  tares.  But  it  has  cured  you,  and 
there's  an  end  of  it.  Let  us  go  back  to  the  Re- 
treat by  to-night's  train." 

"  I  can't,  sir,  I  told  you  before  that  I  meant  to 
become  an  actor." 

"  An  actor,  I  thought  that  folly  was  quite 
driven  out  of  your  head.  I  thought  you  had 
made  the  most  consummate  failure." 

"  People  may  be  pleased  to  style  my  histrionic 
efforts  a  failure,  and  I  do  not  gainsay  them ;  but 
great  actors  have  failed  before  now,  in  their  first 


56  TWIN   ROSES. 

attempts.  I  intend  to  devote  myself  to  the  study 
of  the  profession  from  its  A,  B,  C." 

"  Herman  !  for  Heaven's  sake  listen  to  reason! " 

"  Just  what  I  wish  you  to  do,  sir.  You  know 
very  well  I  cannot  lead  a  humdrum,  every  day 
life.  I  grow  weary  of  content  and  monotonous 
prosperity.  I  should  die  of  mental  plethora — 
or  rather  I  should  break  loose  and  let  your  busi- 
ness fly  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven.  I  need 
an  exciting  occupation.  What  objection  can  you 
have  to  the  stage  ?  " 

"  The  weightiest ;  I  have  heard  what  kind  of 
lives  actors  lead,  from  one  of  the  corps ; — an  old 
man  who  has  lived  upon  the  stage  too  long  to 
leave  it  now,  though  he  rues  the  day  he  ever  saw 
a  theatre.  He  despises  the  profession  and  him- 
self. He  is  an  honest  man,  and  dared  to  tell  me 
the  truth.  If  you  have  one  particle  of  reverence, 
of  affection  for  your  mother,  you  will  give  up 
this  unwise  determination.  Come,  my  boy, 
firmness  and  obstinacy  have  a  striking  family 
resemblance,  but  they  are  not  twin  brothers. 
\(m  may  be  firm  in  doing  right,  you  are  only 
obstinate  if  you  persist  in  doing  wrong.  Yield 
to  us  this  once." 

"  It's  too  late,  sir.  I've  signed  a  contract  with 
the  manager  this  very  day.  And  if  I  had  not,  I 


TWIN   ROSES.  57 

could  not  yield;  my  heart  is  in  the  profession. 
It  cannot  be  renounced." 

"  Herman,  do  not  drive  me  to  threats  ! "  said 
the  old  man  in  an  imploring  tone. 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  do  so,  but  I  cannot  alter  my 
resolution." 

"  It  is  hard  to  be  angry  with  you,  my  son — 
hard  to  treat  you  as  though  your  father's  wrath 
was  upon  you  ; — no,  not  wrath — I  could  not  feel 
wrath  towards  you,  my  only  boy, — but,"  and  Mr. 
Landor  recovered  from  the  weakness  to  which  he 
felt  he  was  giving  way,  and  resumed  in  a  firmer 
tone — "  but  you  know  how  true  I  am  to  my 
word — you  know  that  I  will  not  swerve  one  hair's 
breadth  from  the  path  of  principle.  I  give  you 
one  month  to  decide.  If  you  adopt  the  stage  as 
a  profession,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  your  allow- 
ance, and  how  liberal  it  has  been  I  need  not 

remind  you,  will  cease.  And "  the  old  man 

made  a  desperate  effort  'before  he  could  com- 
plete the  sentence,  "  so  must  your  intercourse  with 
your  parents.  We  must  forget  that  you  were 
our  son.  The  words  are  spoken.  Herman,  you 
know  that  I  will  abide  by  them." 

Mr.  Landor  passed  his  handkerchief  over  his 
face  and  brushed  from  his  brow  the  profuse  drops 
with  which  it  was  bedewed.  His  mild  counte- 


58  TWIN  ROSES. 

nance  wore  a  look  of  painful  entreaty,  mingled 
with  sternness,  if  an  expression  so  soft  in  its 
determination  could  be  stern.  On  his  visage 
even  severity  wore  a  gentle  aspect. 

"  Father,  you  are  carried  away  by  common 
prejudices — you  are  misled " 

"  No,  my  boy,  I  wish  it  were  so.  But  I  have 
not  taken  counsel  from  strangers  to  the  profes- 
sion, or  from  its  enemies — those  might  be  preju- 
diced. I  tell  you,  my  authority  is  one  of  its  own 
members.  I  have  heard  a  true  and  unbiased 
opinion ;  that  opinion  has  more  than  confirmed 
me  in  the  evil  report  of  the  world.  We  need 
not  talk  any  more  on  the  subject,  my  mind  is 
made  up." 

"  And  mine,"  replied  Herman,  in  as  resolved  a 
tone. 

"  I  will  wait  one  month  for  your  final  decision. 
Good-bye,  my  boy ;  think  of  your  mother  some- 
times before  you  decide."  He  wrung  his  son's 
hand  warmly  and  departed. 

Herman  well  knew  that  his  father  would  not 
waver — would  not  alter  his  sentence;  that 
mildly  as  it  had  been  passed,  it  was  far  more 
unchangeable  than  that  of  a  man  who  spoke 
from  the  impulse  of  anger. 

Herman    was     troubled — vexed.      The    stage 


TWIN   ROSES.  m  59 

fever  was  coursing  like  £re  through  his  veins. 
The  intense  passion  for  excitement  took  a  syren 
like  possession  of  his  spirit.  His  love  for  Jeannie 
rendered  him  indignant  that  the  temple  where  his 
idol  was  enshrined  had  been  assailed.  But  he 
soon  banished  all  thought  of  his  father's  inter- 
view, and  went  forth  to  seek  the  floral  love-token 
which  he  daily  presented  to  his  betrothed. 

As  the  company  was  tolerably  large,  it  was  a 
fortnight  before  his  new  duties  as  walking  gentle- 
man commenced,  and  he  devoted  his  leisure  to 
diligent  preparation. 


60  TWIN   ROSES. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    RED    ROSE. 

IN  two  weeks  Herman  again  appeared  upon 
the  boards.  There  was  now  no  flourish  of  play- 
house trumpets.  He  glided  unmarked  into  his 
unpretending  place  among  the  members  of  the 
company.  They  were  touched  by  the  candor 
and  good  sense  with  which  he  freely  confessed 
his  failure  and  admitted  the  necessity  of  study- 
ing their  art  before  it  could  be  mastered.  The 
insignificant  parts  he  nightly  personated  afforded 
no  scope  for  the  display  of  histrionic  genius,  but 
his  commanding  form,  expressive  countenance, 
richly  toned  voice,  and  refined  bearing,  won  favor 
with  the  audience. 

Apparently  he  was  content  with  his  humble 
position.  In  his  heart  he  was  always  looking 
upwards  to  the  high  pinnacle  he  hoped  even- 
tually to  reach,  and  dreaming  of  the  time  when 
his  name  would  be  coupled  with  that  of  a  Cooke, 
a  Kean,  or  a  Kemble. 

About  this  time  Jeannie  received  a  letter  from 


TWIN   ROSES.  61 

Jessie,  with  the  glad  information  that  she  would 
return  home  in  a  few  days.  The  theatre  at  Ryde 
was  shortly  to  close.  The  precise  night  was  not 
yet  fixed. 

Jeannie's  heart  was  filled  with  delight  at  these 
tidings.  Her  sister's  arrival  would  complete  the 
full  measure  of  her  happiness ; — good  measure, 
shaken  together,  pressed  down,  and  running  over. 

The  letter  had  been  accidentally  delayed.  Her- 
man was  sitting  with  Jeannie  the  morning  after 
its  reception.  The  door  of  Jeannie's  room  as 
usual  stood  open.  All  at  once  they  heard  a  stir 
in  the  wardrobe.  Then  followed  the  exclamations, 
in  various  voices,  "  Jessie  !  Jessie  Garnett !  Is  it 
"you  indeed  ?  How  glad  we  are  to  see  you ! " 

Jeannie  tried  to  spring  up,  forgetful  of  her 
crutches.  She  had  just  failed  in  the  attempt 
when  Jessie,  who  had  not  paused  in  her  rapid 
greeting  of  the  seamstresses,  darted  into  the  room, 
swept  by  Herman,  and  threw  herself  on  Jeannie's 
neck,  weeping  with  joy. 

In  a  few  moments  she  disengaged  herself  from 
her  sister's  circling  arms,  and  scattering  a  fragrant 
bunch  of  hawthorn  branches  on  her  lap  said,  "  I 
have  brought  you  some  of  the  May  bloom,  you 
love  so  much,  all  the  way  from  the  Island. 
Look  !  the  blossoms  have  not  withered  yet.  Ah  ! 
6 


62  TWIN    ROSES. 

how  I  wished  for  you,  my  sister,  in  the  earthly 
paradise  where  this  May  bloom  grew !  " 

The  sisters  seemed  only  conscious  of  each 
other's  presence.  Herman  contemplated  them 
with  wondering  admiration.  Their  resemblance 
was  almost  marvellous.  "  An  apple  cleft  in  two 
was  not  more  twin,"  and  yet  he  was  struck  by 
a  striking  dissimilarity. 

There  was  the  same  profusion  of  shining  dark 
hair,  with  its  natural  wave,  that,  if  permitted, 
would  have  flowed  into  curls.  The  same  large, 
liquid,  black  eyes;  drooping  lids,  with  long, 
curled  fringes ;  narrow,  finely  traced  eyebrows. 
The  smile  that  broke  into  dimples.  But  a  saint- 
like meekness  gave  to  Jeannie's  countenance  an 
almost  supernatural  expression,  while  Jessie's 
face  was  perfectly  rayonnant  with  the  fresh, 
auroral  beauty  of  a  May  morning;  brilliant — 
flashing,  .but  more  earthly  than  her  sister's. 
Jeannie's  transparent  complexion  was  nearly 
hueless,  but  on  Jessie's  cheek  glowed  the  rich 
bloom  that  fills  the  eye  with  lustre, 

"  While  exertion's  humid  crimson 
Like  a  wet  rose  made  her  fece." 

Jeannie's  form  was  fragile,  almost  to  attenua- 
tion ;  Jessie's,  though  light  and  flexile,  was  ex- 
quisitely rounded,  and  bespoke  the  plenitude  of 
health  and  strength. 


TWIN    ROSES.  63 

The  pale,  pure  white,  and  the  velvety  damask 
rose ;  blooming,  cheek  to  cheek,  and  upon  one 
stalk. 

Strange,  tumultuous  thoughts,  scarce  defined 
to  himself,  flashed  with  electrical  rapidity  through 
Herman's  mind,  as  he  gazed. 

At  length  Jeannie  turned  to  him  and  said,  "  I 
fear  you  will  think  you  are  quite  forgotten. 
Jessie,  this  is  the  friend  of  whom  I  wrote — Mr. 
Landor — Herman  Landor." 

Jessie,  wholly  engrossed  by  her  sister,  was  not 
aware  of  a  stranger's  presence.  She  started 
slightly,  and  the  hue  deepened  on  her  cheek  as 
she  rose  from  her  knees  beside  Jeannie's  couch. 

In  spite  of  her  confusion,  she  extended  her 
hand  with  a  bewitching  smile.  "  I  have  to  thank 
you;  you  have  been  so  kind  to  my  dear  sister 
— and  I  fear  she  must  have  missed  me  so 
much." 

"  At  this  moment  I  can  hardly  conceive  how 
she  could  have  endured  your  absence,"  answered 
Herman,  fervently. 

The  sisters  sat  with  hands  fondly  locked ;  the 
May  bloom  scattered  on  their  knees,  and  diffus- 
ing its  peculiar,  delicate  perfume  through  the 
chamber,  while  Herman  conversed  with  them. 
He  seemed  to  address  both  when  he  spoke  to 


64  TWIN    ROSES. 

either,  and  was  apparently  unconscious  of  their 
separate  existence. 

Jeannie's  voice  was  low,  and  somewhat  plain- 

• 

tive  in  its  sweetness.  Jessie's  was  more  bugle- 
like  and  mirthfully  melodious,  yet  even  in  their 
tones  there  was  a  singular,  an  almost  bewildering 
resemblance. 

Herman  lingered  long  beyond  the  usual  hour 
of  his  visit,  and  it  is  uncertain  when  he  would 
have  departed,  had  not  the  chamber  been  sud- 
denly invaded  by  Mrs.  Budd,  Dorothy,  Sylvester, 
and  various  members  of  the  company,  who  had 
come  to  welcome  Jessie  home. 

Then  Herman  gained  courage  to  tear  himself 
away.  As  he  pressed  Jeannie's  hand  in  adieu, 
he  took  Jessie's  also,  and  the  close  of  his  fingers 
upon  hers  was  equally,  though  inadvertently,  as 
tender. 

"  Jess,  dear,  I  really  think  your  coming  has 
saved  Sylvester's  life.  The  poor  fellow  has  pined 
sadly  in  your  absence.  Don't  you  think  he  looks 
ill  ?  "  asked  Dorothy,  with  unaffected  concern. 

If  there  was  any  doubt  about  Sylvester's  look- 
ing ill,  there  was  none  about  his  looking  sheepish. 
He  gave  his  sister  a  little  shove,  then  mutely  ap- 
pealed to  Jessie  for  the  sympathy  she  seemed  in- 
clined to  withhold. 


TWIN    ROSES.  65 

"  It's  waste  time  talking  over  such  things," 
suggested  Mrs.  Budd,  breaking  the  somewhat 
perplexing  silence  which  followed  Dorothy's  in- 
quiry. "  If  he's  been  fretting  at  her  absence,  he's 
got  her  back  now,  and  he'd  better  make  the  best 
of  his  time  and  see  what  she's  got  to  say  to  him." 

"  Exactly  my  advice,"  chimed  in  Dorothy. 
"  It  might  have  been  worse  with  poor  Sylly. 
She  might  have  lost  her  heart  on  the  Island,  and 
that  would  have  been  far  worse.  I  warrant  she 
didn't  do  that — did  you,  Jess  ?  " 

"  No — I  really  did  not,"  answered  Jessie,  laugh- 
ing. «  But  I  wish  Dolly " 

"  Oh !  I  know  what  you  wish,  and  you  know 
what  Sylly  wishes,  and  if  you  wiU  grant  the  dear 
boy's  wishes,  why,  of  course,  I'll  grant  yours. 
It's  a  bargain,  and,  as  Mrs.  Budd  says,  there's  no 
time  to  be  lost." 

Accustomed  as  Jessie  was  to  this  kind  of 
rattle-brained  badinage,  it  made  her  feel  unusu- 
ally awkward  and  uncomfortable.  She  busied 
herself  with  arranging  the  hawthorn  branches  in 
water,  greeted  the  bulfinch,  which  hopped  upon 
her  finger  and  pecked  its  food  from  between  her 
ruby  lips, — then  examined  all  the  flowers,  took 
up  the  fresh  bouquet  that  stood  near  Jeannie's 
couch,  and  asked  from  whence  it  came. 
6* 


66  TWIN   HOSES. 

"  It  was  sent  by  Mr.  Landor,"  answered 
Jeannie. 

"  How  good  of  him !  "  replied  Jessie  gratefully. 
"  Truly  this  chamber  of  yours,  Jeannie,  deserves 
to  be  called  *  a  bower,'  as  poets,  with  less  pro- 
priety, always  designate  the  apartments  of  the 
fair  ones  whom  they  sing." 

After  Jessie  had  flitted  about  the  room,  remind- 
ing one  of  a  humming-bird  flying  around  a  honey- 
suckle vine,  she  seated  herself  close  to  Jeannie's 
couch,  with  her  face  turned  towards  her  in  a 
manner  which  shut  out  the  other  occupants  of 
the  apartment. 

Dorothy  meantime  was  chattering  in  her  lively 
way,  and  among  other  play-house  gossip,  giving 
an  account  of  Lander's  amusing  d£but. 

Sylvester  looked  askance  at  Jessie,  and  seized 
every  opportunity  to  throw  in  a  broad,  ill-timed 
compliment.  Dolly  invariably  repeated  his  words 
to  render  them  more  impressive.  Sometimes 
'Sylvester  rebuked  her ;  sometimes,  when  she 
improved  on  his  idea,  he  simpered,  and  said, 
"  yes,  that's  what  I  intended — just  what  I 
meant." 

His  nervous  fingers  were  constantly  twitch- 
ing his  hair,  constantly  passing  over  his  upper 
lip,  as  though  coaxing  an  invisible  moustache 


TWIN    ROSES.  67 

— while  sudden  smiles,  apparently  without  any 
cause,  broke  over  his  face  and  faded  away 
again. 

After  all  other  visitors  had  departed,  the  brother 
and  sister  still  tarried,  until  the  lateness  of  the 
hour  forced  them  to  return  to  their  professional 
duties. 

When  they  were  all  gone,  Jessie  once  more 
fondly  embraced  her  sister,  exclaiming,  "  Oh ! 
what  a  delight  it  is  to  be  with  you,  my  heart's 
sister ! — to  be  alone  with  you  once  more !  How 
trying  it  is  to  have  Dolly  so  constantly  flinging 
her  brother  at  my  feet,  and  striving  to  exhibit  me 
in  the  light  of  a  human  Juggernaut  because  I 
pass  over  him !  How  can  she  suppose  it  pos- 
sible for  me  to  waste  a  thought  upon  such  a  soft- 
brained  creature  ?  What  a  contrast  between 
him  and  your  friend,  Mr.  Landor !  Do  you 
know,  Jeannie,  dear,  I  was  never  so  much  im- 
pressed with  any  human  being  before!  How 
gentle  yet  dignified,  how  handsome  yet  manly  he 
is !  His  very  voice  affected  me  singularly,  as 
though  it  touched  some  chord  deep  in  my  spirit 
that  had  never  given  out  a  sound.  But  how 
pale  you  are !  You  have  not  been  taken  care  of 
in  my  absence — you  look  really  ill." 

A  deadly  pallor  had  indeed  spread  itself  over 


68  TWIN   ROSES. 

Jeannie's  countenance.  Her  slight  frame  shook 
with  a  cold  tremor,  she  sank  back  nerveless  on 
her  pillow. 

Jessie's  loving  inquiries  elicited  no  word  which 
betrayed  the  cause  of  her  sister's  agitation. 
Once  only  she  made  an  effort  to  confide  to  her 
that  she  was  Mr.  Lander's  affianced  bride,  but 
her  lips  moved  inaudibly — some  prophetic  fore- 
boding paralyzed  them.  She  was  choking  with 
her  strong  emotion ;  but  the  more  fondly  Jessie 
sought  to  discover  its  source,  the  more  closely  the 
secret  was  locked,  by  adamantine  gates,  within 
Jeannie's  agitated  heart. 

The  next  morning  Herman  came  as  usual. 
He  was  welcomed  warmly  by  Jessie ;  but  by 
Jeannie  with  nervous  confusion,  with  unwonted 
reserve. 

That  day  Jessie  took  part  in  a  drama  in  which 
Herman  also  appeared.  He  could  spend  but  a 
few  moments  with  Jeannie  before  rehearsal  com- 
menced. Jessie,  very  naturally,  accompanied 
him  to  the  stage. 

Jeannie  tried  in  vain  to  stifle  the  groan-like 
sigh  that  burst  from  her  lips  as  she  saw  them 
d'-part.  Herman  did  not  hear  it — but  Jessie 
turned  back — "Are  you  suffering?  Are  you  ill, 
dear  Jeannie  ?  " 


TWIN   ROSES.  69 

"  No — no— no.    Mr.  Landor  is  waiting  for  you 

-go." 

Three  hours  elapsed  before  Jessie  returned  to 
her  sister's  side.  Jeannie  noted  that  her  eyes 
flashed  with  even  more  than  usual  brilliancy — 
the  roses  on  her  cheek  had  deepened — her  beauty 
was  heightened  by  the  atmosphere  of  joy  that 
seemed  to  encircle  her. 

Jessie  talked  constantly  of  Landor,  and  every 
word  she  uttered  more  firmly  sealed  the  lips  of 
poor  Jeannie. 

Herman  came  not  again  that  day.  His  usual 
floral  token  was  brought  by  the  call-boy,  but 
without  message.  Jeannie  hardly  allowed  her- 
self to  look  at  the  flowers.  Jessie  held  them 
long  and  admiringly. 

"  They  are  sent  to  you,  Jeannie,  but  I  may 
wear  them  to  night  ?  " 

"  Yes,  darling,  I  transfer  them  to  you ;  what  is 
mine — was  mine — is  yours.  It  is  on  your  bosom 
that  such  emblems  of  bright  hours  should  bloom. 
Enough  for  me  that  I  may  give  them  to  you." 

Jeannie  spoke  so  quietly  that  her  sister  never 
divined  how  much  hidden  meaning  there  was  in 
her  words. 

Herman  did  not  fail  to  recognize  the  flowers 
that  night. 


70  TWIN   ROSES. 

Except  when  the  duties  of  his  part  compelled, 
he  never  left  Jessie's  side.  The  number  of  times 
that  two  beings  meet  has  nothing  to  do  with 
their  acquaintance.  Herman  and  Jessie  felt  as 
though  they  had  known  each  other  for  months — 
for  years. 

Mr.  Hawkwood  passed  them  several  times  as 
they  were  walking  up  and  down  behind  the 
scenes.  But  they  were  so  wholly  engrossed  in 
each  other  that  his  sneering  looks  and  muttered 
sarcasms  fell  pointless. 

When  the  labors  of  the  evening  were  over,  and 
Jessie  sat  down  beside  her  sister,  she  murmured, 
"  I  have  had  such  a  happy,  happy  evening." 

Jeannie  pressed  her  lips  on  her  sister's  fair 
brow  as  she  replied,  "  I  rejoice  so  much  for  you ! " 
but  she  did  not,  could  not  add,  "  what  has  ren- 
dered you  so  happy  ?  "  she  knew  too  well. 

Jessie's  eyes  soon  closed,  and 

"  Celestial  dreams 

Began  to  glimmer  through  the  deepening  shadows 
Of  soft  oblivion." 

Hrr  sister  sat  watching  her.  Terrible  was  the 
conflict  within  Jeannie's  soul.  Her  very  heart- 
strings writhed  with  her  great  agony.  Then  she 
gathered  strength  as  she  gazed  on  that  tranquil, 


- 

TWIN  ROSES.  71 

beautiful  face  which  betokened  a  spirit  unbruised, 
unworn. 

Inspired  with  fortitude  from  Heaven,  Jeannie 
thought 

"  Of  those  of  old 

Who  carved  in  brass  these  words  of  gold, 
No  cross,  no  crown!  " 

and  bowed  meekly  to  receive  this  heavy  cross, 
and  lifted  up  her  heart  in  supplication  that  she 
might  bear  it,  uncrushed  to  earth. 

Herman's  visits  to  Jeannie  were  short,  and 
Jessie  was  always  present.  His  attentions,  dur- 
ing these  visits,  seemed  equally  divided  between 
the  twins.  But  Jeannie  was  not  for  a  moment 
deceived.  With  woman's  instinctive  quickness, 
she  saw  and  comprehended  the  change  that  had 
stolen  over  him,  involuntarily,  without  his  own 
consent.  One  fire  puts  out  another's  burning. 
The  dazzling  orb  of  day  had  extinguished  the 
pallid  star. 

His  love  for  her  had  been  but  "the  perfume 
and  suppliance  of  a  minute."  And  how  unfitted 
was  her  brow  to  wear  the  bridal  wreath.  How 
ill  could  she  preside  over  the  domestic  hearth. 
While  Jessie  was  all  that  man  could  desire, 
though  he  were  most  ambitious — all  that  Heaven 
could  grant  when  Heaven  is  most  bountiful. 


72  TWIN   ROSES. 

And  was  it  possible  that  Herman  had  so 
quickly  given  Jeannie's  place  to  another  ?  Call 
the  sudden  transfer  of  affection  unnatural,  un- 
pardonable— it  may  be  so ;  but,  alas !  the  his- 
tory of  too  many  broken  hearts  and  blighted 
spirits  will  prove  that  recording  angels  daily 
inscribe  such  changes  in  the  books  of  men's 
lives. 

Jeannie  saw  that  in  spite  of  Herman's  absorb- 
ing passion  for  her  sister,  he  was  suffering  from 
the  stings  of  self-reproach.  In  some  unguarded 
hour  he  might  confide  to  Jessie  his  former  attach- 
ment. And  Jessie  would  assume  the  sacrifice 
which  it  was  her  sister's  duty  to  make.  For 
Jessie  would  surely  reject  Herman  if  she  learned 
that  she  had  robbed  Jeannie  of  his  heart.  Jeannie 
gained  courage  as  she  looked  boldly  at  this 
evil  which  menaced  an  existence  so  cloudlessly 
happy.  Her  feeble  arm  grew  strong  when 
stretched  out  to  shield  her  sister. 

It  was  now  about  a  fortnight  after  Jessie's 
return.  Herman  was  paying  his  usual  morning 
visit  At  the  hour  of  rehearsal,  when  he  rose  to 
accompany  Jessie,  Jeannie  turned  to  him,  and, 
with  a  calm  smile,  said,  "  You  have  no  rehearsal 
ihi-  morning — have  you?  Let  Jessie  go— will 
you  not  sit  awhile  with  me  ?  " 


TWIN  ROSES.  73 

Herman  stood  uncertain ;  he  would  gladly 
have  avoided  this  interview. 

"  Oh,  yes — stay  with  sister,  by  all  means," 
replied  Jessie.  "  She  is  too  often  left  alone.  I 
am  so  glad  you  have  no  part  this  morning  to 
call  you  away." 

Herman  resumed  his  seat  in  silence. 

He  despised  himself — he  felt  like  a  coward — a 
culprit  brought  before  some  heavenly  tribunal ; 
but  he  could  not  escape. 

Jessie  smiled  brightly  on  them  both,  and  with 
airy  step,  passed  out  of  the  room. 

For  a  few  moments  there  was  silence..  Then 
Jeannie  looked  up,  her  countenance  unruffled, 
and  said,  "  Will  you  close  that  door  ?  " 

Herman  obeyed,  and  once  more  sat  down  ;  but 
before  she  could  speak  again  he  started  up  ex- 
claiming, "  What  a  scoundrel  you  must  think 
me,  Jeannie  !  I  know,  I  know  what  is  passing 
in  your  heart." 

"  No,  Herman,"  she  answered  softly,  and  ex- 
tending to  him  her  thin,  pale  hand ;  "  No — I  wish 
you  could  see  my  heart,  for  I  have  long  seen 
what  passed  in  yours.  It  was  for  this  I  wanted 
to  speak  with  you.  Let  us  not  dwell  upon  the 
past.  I  comprehend  all — my  sister  is  so  lovely — 
she  is  every  thing  that  man  could  ask  for  as  the 


74  TWIN   R" 

companion  of  his  life;  and  I  love  her  so  well 
myself — that — how  could  I  feel  less — less  kindly 
towards  you  for  loving  her  ?  No — no — I  do  not." 

"  Jeannie  " — commenced  Herman  deprecat- 
ingly,  almost  as  though  he  would  have  denied 
the  charge. 

"  I  know  it " — resumed  Jeanuie  hurriedly,  "  I 
am  content  I  wanted  to  tell  you  so  ;  to  tell  you 
this,  and  to  make  you  feel  that  if  Jessie  loves 
you — but  I  know  she  does — I  accept  you  joy- 
fully for  a  dear  brother.  Now  tell  me  that  all  is 
well  and  leave  me,  Herman." 

"  How  meanly  you  must  think  of  me  dearest, 
dearest  Jeannie!  What  a  fickle,  contemptible 
fellow  I  must  seem  in  your  eyes.  How  little 
you  can  understand " 

"  But  I  do — I  do  understand.  If  I  thought 
you  unworthy,  I  would  not  trust  my  sister's  happi- 
ness in  your  hands.  Only  render  Jessie  very,  very 
happy.  Be  tender  to  her.  Be  all  that  her  loving 
heart  expects  in  a  husband — and  that  is  much, 
very  much  ; — I  ask  but  this,  and  let  MS  ever  be  as 
dear  sister  and  brother."  Jeannie  now  spoke 
calmly  and  with  little  apparent  effort. 

Hi-miau  clasped  her  hand  in  both  his  and 
bowed  his  head,  and  reverently  kissed  the  hand 
he  held,  to  hide  his  emotion. 


TWIN   ROSES.  75 

"  And  now,  Herman,  pray  leave  me.  Speak 
to  Jessie  as  soon  as  you  will.  The  sooner,  per- 
haps, the  better.  Be  true  to  her — Oh !  Herman, 
be  true  to  her ;  that  is  all  I  pray  of  you." 

She  did  not  mean  that  there  should  be  a  touch 
of  reproach  in  her  voice,  but  Herman  felt  there 
was,  and  it  pierced  him  to  the  soul.  Alas!  he 
had  been  too  false  to  the  one  who  now  implored 
him  to  be  true  to  another. 

"  I  will,  so  Heaven  help  me ! "  He  answered 
with  fervor. 

"  I  trust  you,  Herman,  my  brother — adieu." 

When  Herman  left  the  room  Jeannie  sank 
motionless  on  her  pillow.  She  seemed  hardly  to 
breathe — her  very  pulses  almost  ceased  to  beat. 
After  a  time  her  lips  gently  moved — and  her  eyes 
were  uplifted ;  then  adown  her  pallid  cheeks  one 
large,  glittering  tear  stole  after  another.  They 
washed  away  the  last  rebellious  regret — they 
bleached  the  last  faint  spot  of  selfishness  that 
shadowed  her  pure  spirit.  Her  life  was  despoiled, 
and  oh !  the  poverty,  the  hunger  of  the  heart  of 
those  who  have  yielded  up  the  idol  interwound 
with  the  fibres  of  their  existence !  Yet  Jeannie 
knew  it  was  well.  To  glide  smoothly  through 
life  without  trials,  without  sacrifices,  would  seem- 
ingly be  good — but  it  would  be  a  purely  earthly, 


76  TWIN  ROSES. 

transitory  good.  To  bear  sorrow  meekly — to 
learn  all  the  lessons  of  wisdom  it  imparts — to 
extract  from  adversity  its  purifying,  maturing 
influences,  this  is  an  eternal,  not  a  temporary 
good.  In  the  furrows  ploughed  through  the  heart 
by  such  sorrow,  angels  sow  the  seeds  that  spring 
up  trees  of  paradise  and  bear  fruits  of  eternal 
bliss.  The  brightest  rainbow  of  promise  in  our 
earthly  sky  is  formed  of  tears. 

When  Jessie  returned  from  rehearsal,  her  sister 
was  reclining  in  her  usual  position  and  quietly 
embroidering. 

"  Jeannie !  I  am  so  blessed,  so  happy !  "  mur- 
mured Jessie,  kneeling  down  beside  her. 

"I  divine  the  cause,  dearest,  Herman  has  let 
me  guess  his  secret.  I  rejoice  with  you.  May 
all  your  bright  dreams  be  realities." 

"  Ah  !  how  could  it  be  otherwise  !  "  exclaimed 
Jessie.  "  Herman  is  my  beau  ideal.  All  that  I 
ever  pictured  to  myself  as  most  admirable,  most 
lovable  in  manhood.  We  think  alike — feel 
alike.  He  is  my  other  self!  Day  by  day  we  will 
become  nearer  to  each  other — will  be  more  inte- 
riorly united!  Our  spirits  will  be  perfected 
together.  We  will  grow  better  and  purer — more 
regenerate,  side  by  side ;  we  will  advance  hand 
in  hand  towards  the  throne  of  mercy !  Our 


TWIN  ROSES.  77 

lives  here  will  be  but  the  commencement  of  that 
holy  life  eternal  which  we  will  pass  as  true  part- 
ners forever  inseparable." 

"  Our  Lord  grant  it,  my  sister.     Blessed  be  he 
for  all  his  mercies ! " 


7* 


78  TWIN    ROSES. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    LOVERS. 

LOVE — ardent,  all-engrossing  love — transforms 
even  common-place  men  into  poets — not  poets 
who  pen  their  inspirations  for  the  world's  eye, 
but  who  pour  them  out,  with  passion's  re- 
sistless emphasis,  to  charm  the  ear  of  the  be- 
loved. Upon  such  a  temperament  as  Herman 
Lander's,  love  had  the  most  exalting,  spiritualiz- 
ing influence.  His  most  captivating  attributes 
were  all  drawn  forth  into  full  light.  His  failings 
sank  back  into  obscurity.  Bathed  in  the  smiling 
sunshine  of  courtship,  how  resplendently  every 
man's  virtues  shine ! 

Herman  had  looked  up  to  Jeannie  with  the 
worship  of  a  devotee  for  a  saint ;  but,  when  he 
beheld  Jessie,  his  saint  seemed  clothed  witli 
mortal  loveliness,  and  stood  beside  him  upon  the 
earth. 

He  could  not  endure  to  be  absent  from  her  side 
— if  her  eyes  turned  from  him  a  shadow  passed 
over  his  spirit ;  her  wishes  were  anticipated  be- 


TWIN    ROSES.  79 

fore  they  faltered  into  language ;  the  assured  pos- 
session of  her  love  did  not  impart  a  sense  of  secu- 
rity to  his  untranquil  nature.  A  vague  dread  of 
losing  what  he  had  gained,  added  constant  fuel 
to  his  passion.  Even  his  wild  infatuation  for  the 
stage  was  swallowed  up  in  this  more  absorbing 
attachment.  He  might  have  said  with  Valentine, 

u  Now,  no  discourse  except  it  be  of  love ; 
Now,  can  I  break  my  fast,  dine,  sup,  and  sleep, 
Upon  the  naked  very  name  of  love." 

There  was  a  change,  too,  in  Jessie,  since  the 
"holy  close  of  lips"  that  sealed  her  betrothal. 
She  was  more  timid,  less  mirthful  in  Herman's 
presence,  but  softer  and  meeker.  Though  her 
words  were  always  the  echoes  of  her  heart, 
love's  language  found  no  voice  upon  her  lips. 
She  hardly  ever  breathed  his  name  save  to  her 
sister,  though  every  lip  that  gave  utterance  to  the 
sound  was  full  of  music  to  her  ears. 

A  life-pervading  piety  guided  every  act  of  the 
twin  sisters.  Perhaps  it  was  a  heavenly  con- 
tagion caught  from  them — perhaps  the  soul- 
expanding,  uplifting  influence  of  love  itself  which 
caused  Herman,  for  the  first  time,  to  experience 
devotional  emotions.  He  began  to  ponder  upon 
the  relationship  of  God's  creatures  to  their  Maker 
— to  trace  out  the  myriad  springs  of  blessedness 


80  TWIN    ROSES. 

with  which  their  existence  is  flooded — to  waken 
to  a  sense  of  the  obligations  of  the  receivers  to- 
wards the  Great  Giver. 

According  to  the  strict  laws  of  order,  woman 
is  not  man's  appointed  instructor  in  heavenly 
truths.  Wisdom  is  his  essential  attribute — love 
is  hers.  But  there  are  men  whose  souls  could 
not  be  unlocked  save  by  the  key  of  human  love 
placed  in  a  woman's  hand,  and  thus  only  could 
an  influx  of  love  for  the  Divine  flow  into  their 
hearts.  Herman  was  one  of  these. 

Often  on  Sabbath  mornings  would  he  sit  by 
Jessie's  side,  mutely  listening  while  Jeannie  read 
to  them  the  spiritual  interpretation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures. Many  a  passage  sank  deep  into  Herman's 
memory.  Ever  and  anon  he  pressed  the  hand  he 
held,  in  token  of  assent,  and  the  pressure  was 
lightly,  timidly  returned.  Then  would  Jessie's 
heart  throb  with  new  joy,  for  she  felt  that  their 
inner  bond  of  union,  at  that  moment,  was 
strengthening.  She  more  confidently  than  ever 
cherished  the  belief  that  its  links  were  heaven- 
forged — the  only  ones  that  time,  trial,  adverse  cir- 
cumstances, and  the  power  of  man,  cannot  sever. 

Jeannie  appeared  to  have  grown  suddenly 
older,  and  to  have  become  the  guide  and  guard- 
ian of  these  two.  Though  heavy  darkness  en- 


TWIN    ROSES.  81 

veloped  her  life,  there  remained  to  her  the  high 
privilege  of  rendering  others  happy.  Could  she 
deem  herself  wretched  while  that  felicity  was  still 
accorded  her  ?  She  could  not  be  called  happy — 
but  she  was  what  is  far  better — blessed ! 

The  tranquillity  of  her  manner  had  lured  Her- 
man into  the  belief  that  her  attachment  for  him 
had  been  as  evanescent  as  his  own— that  she  did 
not  suffer  ;  and  thus  he  was  spared  many  a  pang 
which  his  generous  nature  must  otherwise  have 
endured. 

Herman  pleaded,  with  lover-like  warmth,  that 
the  day  of  the  nuptials  might  be  appointed,  and 
vehemently  protested  against  delay.  But  Jessie 
refused  compliance  until  he  had  written  to  his 
parents  and  received  their  reply. 

Herman  wrote.  The  epistle  was  one  long 
panegyric  upon  the  loveliness  of  the  young  and 
innocent  being  who  was  his  affianced  wife. 

He  had  received  an  appealing  letter  from  his 
father  at  the  end  of  the  month  which  had  been 
given  him  for  decision.  He  had  replied  firmly 
but  respectfully,  announcing  that  his  resolution 
was  unshaken — he  had  determined  to  adopt  the 
stage  as  a  profession. 

There  had  been  no  further  communication  be- 
tween the  father  and  son,  but  Herman  learned  at 


82  TWIN    ROSES. 

his  banker's  that  his  allowance  had  ceased.  It 
had  been  so  liberal  that  a  considerable  sum  re- 
mained to  his  credit. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  picture  the  amazement, 
the  grief  of  the  worthy  couple  when  Herman's 
letter,  communicating  his  matrimonial  intentions, 
was  received.  Their  son  had  been  entrapped — 
lured  into  an  evil  path,  and  this  connection  would 
probably  complete  his  ruin  !  The  mother  with 
tears,  and  the  father  with  anguish  that  could  find 
no  such  relief,  pondered  over  Herman's  rhapsody. 

"  But  if  what  he  writes  be  true,"  at  length  said 
Mrs.  Lander ;  "  if  the  girl  should  be  as  good  and 
as  innocent  as  our  boy  says — " 

"If!  IF,  indeed,  wife!  Can  any  good  thing 
come  out  of  Nazareth  ?  An  actress  !  Bred  in  a 
theatre !  No — no — it  is  not  possible.  I  couldn't 
believe  it  possible  after  all  that  unfortunate  Mr. 
Hawkwood  told  me.  And  some  things  he  rather 
hinted  than  said  in  so  many  words.  They  were 
too  shocking  for  language." 

"  But  might  there  not  be  an  exception  ?  "  re- 
plied the  mother,  clinging  to  a  faint  hope.  "  You 
know  a  good  thing  did  come  out  of  Nazareth,  in 
spite  of  the  doubts  of  Nathanael.  This  girl  has  a 
crippled  sister,  of  whom  Herman  speaks  so  affec- 
tionately— might  not  these  two  girls  be  excep- 


TWIN    ROSES.  83 

tions  to  general  rules  ?  Is  it  right,  is  it  charitable, 
is  it  befitting  a  godly  man  to  condemn  all  because 
many  deserve  condemnation  ?  " 

A  sudden  gleam  irradiated  the  old  man's  coun- 
tenance. "  You  are  right,  wife  ;  it  is  not  charita- 
ble. I  will  go  to  London — I  will  see  for  myself." 

"  And  if  the  girl  be  all  that  he  says — " 

"  If  she  should  be — even  then  it  is  a  bad  busi- 
ness, I  fear, — but  this  I  will  do ;  I  will  offer  to 
bless  their  union,  and  to  take  them  to  our  home  if 
they  will  both  give  up  the  stage,  and  if  Herman 
will  adopt  the  honorable  calling  of  his  father." 

"  If  our  boy  truly  love  this  girl,  he  will  consent ; 
if  she  truly  love  him,  she  will  not  refuse — be  sure 
of  that." 

Mr.  Landor  made  rapid  preparations  for  his 
departure  to  London.  But,  when  he  arrived 
there,  instead  of  at  once  seeking  his  son,  he 
thought  an  interview  with  Mr.  Hawkwood  ad- 
visable. 

Hawkwood,  the  moment  he  saw  the  old  man, 
comprehended  his  mission,  and  secretly  exulted 
in  his  power  to  injure  the  detested  Herman. 

Mr.  Landor's  cordial  greeting,  his  confiding 
manner,  and  his  troubled  look,  made  no  impres- 
sion on  the  scandal-monger's  callous  heart.  Even 
had  he  borne  Herman  no  enmity,  so  strong  was 


84  TWIN    ROSES. 

his  ruling  love  that  he  could  not  have  resisted  the 
temptation  to  backbite  and  defame — to  nod  and 
hint  away  a  reputation  by  looks,  and  shrugs,  and 
innuendoes  more  dangerous  than  express  charges. 
And  the  habit  had  made  "  such  a  sinner  of  his 
memory,"  that  he  often  credited  his  own  lie. 

Unsuspecting  Mr.  Landor  received  the  baleful 
droppings  from  the  actor's  venomous  tongue 
with  a  too  credulous  ear.  He  could  not  have 
repeated  a  single  direct  charge  made  by  Hawk- 
wood  against  the  twin  sisters,  yet  he  was  im- 
pressed with  the  conviction  that  they  were  artful, 
designing  girls  who  had  thrown  their  syren-like 
spells  around  Herman,  and  ensnared  him  to  his 
ruin. 

"  One  word  more,"  said  the  old  man  in  an 
agitated  tone.  "  Am  I  to  understand  you  that 
these  young  women  do  not  bear  stainless  char- 
acters ?  " 

Mr.  Hawkwood  made  a  wry  face  as  he  looked 
down  upon  his  plate  ;  then,  assuming  an  air  of 
frankness,  he  replied,  with  pompous  intonation, 
"  the  serpent  scales  of  sin  have  a  glitter  that 
blind  the  eyes  of  a  youth,  such  as  your  son. 
These  girls  were  bred  to  simulate — to  act  what 
they  are  not  I  would  not  trust  them  any  fur- 
ther than  I  could  see  them.  You  really  must  not 


TWIN  ROSES.  85 

press  me  to  say  any  thing  more  definite.     I  leave 
you  to  draw  your  own  inferences." 

To  the  old  man's  unsophisticated  mind,  these 
words  conveyed  irrefragable  confirmation  of  all 
that  he  most  dreaded. 

His  resolution  was  quickly  formed.  He  has- 
tened to  his  son's  lodgings.  He  was  not  at  home. 
When  Herman  returned,  two  hours  later,  he  found 
his  father  seated  by  the  table,  turning  over  the  leaves 
of  one  of  the  plays  which  lay  scattered  about. 

He  looked  up  and  said  kindly,  "  You  see  how 
I  am  employed.  I  don't  wonder  that  these  books 
interest  you.  I  feel  the  spell  myself,  old  as  I 
am.  This  Shakspeare  is  a  great  wizard.  I  quite 
lost  myself  and  forgot  your  absence,  while  read- 
ing about  Julius  Caesar  and  Mark  Antony." 

Herman,  amazed  and  overjoyed  at  this  greet- 
ing, augured  the  fulfilment  of  hopes  which  he  had 
hardly  dared  to  nurture. 

"  Julius  Caasar  !  it's  a  glorious  play,  -is  it  not  ?  " 
he  exclaimed.  "  I  enacted  Casca  ;  did  you  notice 
that  part?  I  really  wish  you  could  have  seen 
my  personation,  father !  " 

"  Heaven  forbid!"  ejaculated  Mr.  Landor.  "  I 
could  not  have  borne  to  have  seen  my  son  tricked 
out  as  a  mountebank,  strutting  and  bellowing  to 
please  a  mob." 

8 


86  TWIN   ROSES. 

Herman  turned  away  impatiently. 

Mr.  Landor  stood  up  before  him  with  a  calm 
dignity  that  almost  awed  the  impetuous  young 
man. 

"  My  son,  you  divine — you  know  my  errand 
here.  Your  conscience  tells  it  to  you.  It  is  to 
save  you,  if  possible,  from  a  fatal  error  which 
you  are  about  to  commit ; — to  prevent  this  mar- 
riage with  an  actress." 

"  Father,  you  have  not  seen  her,  you  know 
nothing  of  her " 

"  Nothing  ?  "  interrupted  Mr.  Landor  in  a  tone 
almost  of  horror ;  "  too  much — too  much !  Had 
she  been  such  a  woman  as  I  would  rejoice  to  call 
my  son's  wife,  I  should  have  said,  if  you  love 
each  other  truly,  make  one  sacrifice  in  proof — give 
up  this  profession,  both  of  you ;  marry  and  come 
home  to  Devonshire,  come  home  to  your  father 
and  mother.  But  as  it  is " 

"  Stop,  father,  who  has  ever — who  ever  could 
have  breathed  one  word  against  Jessie  Garnett  ? 
You  have  only  to  see  her — to  hear  her — that  is 
all  I  ask." 

"  And  to  that  I  will  never  consent.  Her  beauty 
may  t>r  da/xling — her  manners  captivating; — so 
alluring  that  they  might  even  warp  the  judgment 
of  a  stupid  old  man,  such  as  I  am.  But  beauty 


TWIN   ROSES.  87 

of  mind  and  character,  they  are  what  I  desire  for 
my  son's  wife." 

"  And  these  Jessie  possesses  in  an  eminent 
degree;  the  charms  of  her  person  are  far  trans- 
cended by  those  of  her  mind." 

"  I  do  not  doubt  that  you  believe  so.  I  could 
not  think  of  my  son  so  poorly  as  to  imagine  that 
he  could  yield  himself  up  wholly  captive  to  a 
woman  who  had  not  the  art  to  make  him  believe 
her  worthy.  But  your  infatuation  blinds  you.  I 
have  information  from  sources  not  to  be  doubted. 
I  know  all  that  concerns  this  unfortunate  girl.  I 
do  not  desire  to  see  her,  and  could  I  prevent  it, 
you  should  never  behold  her  again." 

"  Impossible !  she  is  to  be  my  wife.  Father, 
my  spirit  is  as  determined  as  your  own,  my  reso- 
lution as  inflexible.  It  may  be  that  I  inherit 
your  firmness.  I  have  plighted  my  faith  to  this 
true-hearted,  pure-minded  girl,  and  my  wife  she 
must  shortly  become." 

While  his  son  spoke,  the  lines  of  sorrow  on 
Mr.  Landor's  countenance  deepened  until  they 
assumed  a  stony  hardness.  His  limbs  were  set 
and  almost  rigid. 

"  Entreaties  are  vain,  then,"  he  answered 
slowly.  "  Listen  to  what  I  have  to  say.  If  you 
marry  this  girl,  if  you  give  your  virtuous  mother 


88  TWIN   ROSES. 

a  daughter  who  does  not  bear  an  unblemished 
name,  I  discard  you  wholly  and  forever!  The 
threshold  of  my  door  you  shall  never  cross.  The 
hard  earnings  of  my  life  of  toil  shall  never  enrich 
you.  I  renounce  all  communication  with  you. 
You  are  no  longer  son  of  mine.  A  vow  regis- 
tered in  Heaven  cannot  be  more  sacred  than  my 
word.  Do  not  decide  rashly." 

Mr.  Landor  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  Consent  to  see  her,"  pleaded  Herman. 

"  No— I  will  not  trust  myself." 

Mr.  Landor  turned  back  and  hesitated.  "  Her- 
man, my  son,  think  better  of  it — conquer  this 
unworthy  passion " 

Herman's  eyes  flashed  fire. 

"  It  is  not  unworthy !  You  will  not  listen  to 
me  when  I  would  convince  you  of  that.  Relin- 
linquish  her  ?  Never !  She  is  my  life,  my  soul, 
my  whole  existence !  Nothing  human  can  part 
us ! " 

"Not  the  severing  of  all  nature's  ties?  I 
cannot  believe  that,"  said  Mr.  Landor  in  quaver- 
ing tones. 

With  bowed  head  he  turned  once  more  to 
deport. 

ll« Tina n  made  no  attempt  to  detain  him. 
That  evening  he  gave  Jessie  a  very  brief  account 


TWIN  ROSES.  89 

of  his  father's  visit.  He  confessed  that  Mr. 
Landor  would  not  consent  to  his  marriage  any 
more  than  he  would  consent  to  his  profession  as 
an  actor.  He  added  that  he  was  of  age,  and 
had  the  right  of  law  and  reason  to  judge  for  him- 
self, and  he  had  done  so.  This  was  all  he  told 
her. 

When  Jessie  made  a  faint  attempt  to  remon- 
strate, he  silenced  her  with  love's  sophistry,  so 
successfully  poured  forth  that  he  finally  ob- 
tained her  consent  to  become  his  wife  in  another 
month. 

Mr.  Landor  left  the  same  evening  for  Devon- 
shire. 


8* 


90  TWIN   ROSES. 


CHAPTER  VH. 

A    BRIDAL. 

WHEN  Sylvester  heard  of  Jessie's  intended 
marriage,  the  enamoured  youth  exhibited  demon- 
strations of  despair  so  impotently  tragic  in  their 
violence  that  they  degenerated  into  comedy.  But 
his  brusque,  kind-hearted  sister,  with  threatening 
air,  silenced  the  mirth  of  his  associates,  and  pro- 
tectingly  consoled  him  in  her  own  peculiar  fashion. 

"  It  might  be  worse,  Sylly,  might  be  far  worse," 
she  said,  giving  him  a  gentle  shake  to  arouse 
him.  "  Suppose  the  girl  was  going  to  die — sup- 
pose she  had  fallen  through  a  trap-door  as  her 
sister  did — suppose  she  were  taken  down  with 
smallpox — suppose  she  was  clean  dead  and 
gone?  How  would  you  feel  then?  All  that 
would  be  worse,  wouldn't  it  be  ?  There's  a  deal 
of  consolation  in  contrast.  Always  contrast 
what  looks  unfortunate  with  something  a  deal 
more  unfortunate — the  effect  is  wonderfully  con- 
soling— so  never  forget  to  do  that  You  see  it's 
not  as  bad  as  it  might  be." 


TWIN   ROSES.  91 

"  Could  hardly  be  worse  for  me,"  replied  Syl- 
vester, dolefully. 

"  What  ?  You'd  rather  have  her  dead,  would 
you,  you  inhuman  piece  of  flesh?"  exclaimed 
Dorothy  with  indignation. 

"  No,  no,  I  don't  say  that ;  of  course  not." 

"  Then  you  must  admit  that  matters  might  be 
worse,  and  there's  no  use  fretting  until  the  very 
worst  that  can  happen  comes.  I  wish  you  could 
turn  your  thoughts  to  Jeannie.  It  would  be  but 
a  fair  exchange,  for  I'm  mightily  mistaken  if 
young  Landor  hadn't  her  in  his  mind  before 
Jessie  came  home.  Couldn't  you  fancy  Jean- 
nie ?  " 

"  How  you  talk !  "  replied  Sylvester  dubiously. 

"  Might  have  a  worse  wife  than  Jeannie 
Garnett,  though  she  is  lame,  and  always  likely 
to  be  an  invalid.  You  and  I  would  take  care 
of  her,  wouldn't  we  ?  I  love  her  quite  as  much 
as  though  she  were  my  own  sister  already.  I 
don't  know  but  that  I  prefer  her  to  Jessie  after 
all.  Yes,  you  might  do  worse ;  so  cheer  up,  and 
think  about  Jeannie." 

Dorothy  had  many  similar  conversations  with 
her  brother.  She  lost  no  opportunity  of  proving 
the  feasibility  of  forgetting  one  sister  by  tenderly 
remembering  the  other.  Sylvester,  ever  facile  in 


92  TWIN   ROSES. 

her  hands,  began  unconsciously  to  pay  Jeannie 
the  most  devoted  attention. 

And  where  was  Mr.  Hawkwood?  Nightly 
watching  the  betrothed  pair  with  hard,  malignant 
eyes,  speculating  on  mischief  but  half  engendered 
in  his  brain. 

He  had  separated  Landor  from  his  father ;  he 
had  placed  Herman  in  peril  of  being  disinherited  • 
but  he  had  failed  to  render  him  miserable.  Might 
he  not  raise  a  barrier  between  him  and  Jessie  ? 
There  would  be  the  vulnerable  spot  which  his 
arrow  might  pierce.  Was  there  no  gall  that 
could  be  dropped  in  the  nectarean  juice  of  that 
joy-brimmed  cup  of  theirs  ? 

Herman  was  so  constantly  at  Jessie's  side  that 
the  wily  schemer  waited  long  and  patiently  be- 
fore an  opportunity  of  approaching  her  presented 
itself. 

At  last,  one  night,  her  lover  was  on  the  stage 
during  a  long  scene  in  which  neither  Hawkwood 
nor  Jessie  appeared.  She  was  standing  at  the 
wing  where  Herman  made  his  entrance,  watching 
him  with  eager  interest. 

Mr.  Hawkwood  drew  near.  Jessie  shrank 
from  him  instinctively,  and  would  have  retired; 
but  he  said,  "  Remain  awhile,  Miss  Garnett ;  I 
have  a  word  to  say  to  you." 


TWIN   ROSES.  93 

Jessie,  always  timid,  had  not  courage  to  stir. 

"  You  are  going  to  be  married  ?  " 

The  young  girl  did  not  reply,  but  the  conscious 
blood  that  suffused  her  cheek  made  answer. 

"  Do  you  know  that  Herman  Lander's  father 
refuses  his  consent  ?  " 

"  Yes — I  fear  he  does,"  she  stammered  out. 

"Ah !  you  know  that  ?  Do  you  also  know 
that  he  will  cast  off  his  son,  disinherit  him,  dis- 
own him  ?  Are  you  aware  that  he  despises  you  ? 
that  he  will  never  see  you  ?  that  there  is  misery 
enough  in  store  for  you  ?  I,  as  a  friend,  tell  you 
this."  Hawkwood  poured  out  his  enumeration 
of  evils  with  a  sort  of  savage  delight. 

"  No — it  can't  be.  Herman's  father  is  not  so 
inhuman,"  said  Jessie,  bursting  into  tears. 

"  Isn't  he  ?  Just  give  him  a  chance,  that's 
all.  These  cranky  old  fellows  like  to  show  their 
authority.  They  despise  us  actors,  look  upon 
us  as  a  vile  set.  And  so  we  are,  Heaven  knows. 
What  do  you  suppose  the  old  man  thinks  of 
you  ?  Would  you  like  to  hear  ?  " 

"  Oh !  don't  torture  me !  you  have  made  me 
wretched  enough.  What,  what  shall  I  do  ?  " 

"  Send  the  young  fellow  adrift.  Between  our- 
selves he's  not  worthy  of  a  pretty  girl  such  as 
you  are.  If  you  knew  all  that  I  know !  But  I'll 


94  TWIN   ROSES. 

not  '  reveal  the  secrets  of  the  prison-house,'  or  I 
might  '  a  tale  unfold '  that  would  startle  you  a 
little." 

And  Mr.  Hawkwood  ominously  shook  his 
head. 

Jessie  ceased  weeping,  and  looked  up  with  an 
expression  of  mingled  surprise  and  horror,  as  she 
replied  indignantly,  "  I  don't  believe  it !  I  won't 
listen  to  another  word.  It's  all  equally  false. 
Do  you  suppose  you  could  make  me  credit  any 
thing  against  Herman  ?  " 

And  before  Hawkwood  could  prevent  her,  she 
had  darted  away. 

When  Landor  left  the  stage,  he  was  surprised 
not  to  find  Jessie  waiting  for  him  where  she 
knew  that  he  made  his  exit.  This  had  been  the 
custom  of  the  lovers.  He  sought  her  in  the 
green  room,  and  then  behind  the  scenes.  He 
found  her  seated  in  a  retired  corner,  with  her 
head  leaning  against  the  wall.  She  was  weep- 
ing bitterly.  These  were  the  first  tears  she  had 
ever  shed  in  his  presence. 

She  had  determined  not  to  relate  to  Herman 
what  had  passed  until  she  had  consulted  her 
sister.  Her  mind  was  sorely  perplexed.  Was  it 
not  possible  that  Mr.  Hawkwood  had  spoken 
truth  of  Herman's  father?  Herman  had  ad- 


TWIN   ROSES.  95 

mitted  that  he  objected  to  their  union,  but  was 
his  opposition  of  this  violent  nature  ? 

Herman's  presence  broke  in  upon  her  sad 
reflections.  His  tenderness,  his  entreaties  were 
irresistible.  Her  resolution  melted  before  them. 
She  repeated  the  cruel  words  that  had  wrung  her 
heart. 

After  a  burst  of  indignation  at  Hawkwood's 
malice,  Herman  dexterously  threw  such  flattering 
lights  upon  the  picture  his  enemy  had  drawn, 
that  it  took  a  new  aspect,  without  wholly  losing 
its  resemblance.  The  dark  shadows  were  illum- 
ined, and  the  painful  strokes  erased.  Mr.  Landor 
appeared  to  Jessie  a  fond,  forgiving  father  whose 
judgment  was  slightly  warped  by  popular  pre- 
judices, but  whose  affection  for  his  son  was  un- 
alterable. 

An  hour  later,  Jessie  narrated  to  her  sister  the 
incidents  of  the  evening.  Jeannie  shuddered  as 
she  listened,  and  dark  forebodings  crowded  fast 
and  thick  into  her  mind.  Unless  Jessie's  happi- 
ness were  secured,  how  valueless  was  her  own 
sacrifice ! 

Herman  and  Jessie  were  to  be  united  early  in 
August.  The  bans  had  already  been  published. 

Herman  had  taken  lodgings  near  one  of  the 
spacious  parks  that  enliven  and  beautify  the 


96  TWIN    ROSES. 

great  metropolis.  To  adorn  this  modest  bridal 
home,  to  supply  it  with  comforts  and  luxuries  to 
which  Jessie  was  a  stranger,  became  one  of  his 
most  fascinating  occupations.  But  when,  with 
lover-like  rapture,  he  discoursed  to  Jessie  of  his 
employment,  she  could  not  repress  a  sigh.  She 
could  not  reconcile  herself  at  once  to  the  separa- 
tion from  her  sister,  she  could  not  think  of  any 
other  spot  but  that  bower-like  chamber  as  her 
home. 

Few  and  simple  were  Jessie's  bridal  prepara- 
tions. But,  evening  after  evening,  when  Jean- 
nie's  daily  tasks  were  completed — when  the  hour 
came  for  the  companionship  of  books  in  her  soli- 
tude, she  would  forego  their  refreshment  to  ply 
her  needle.  That  pure  white  muslin  robe  on 
\vhich  she  wrought  so  diligently,  was  to  be  her 
sister's  bridal  garment. 

When  the  curtain  had  fallen  for  the  last  time, 
and  the  weary  players  sought  their  homes,  Jessie 
constantly  found  her  sister  thus  tenderly  em- 
ployed, and  would  pray  her  to  put  by  her  work. 

"  Not  yet,  dear,  I  am  not  tired.  But  do  you 
go  to  sleep,  or  those  roses  in  your  cheeks  will 
fa-le.  :iiid  lint  would  grieve  Herman."1 

Soon  Jessie  was  softly  slumbering  under  the 
white  curtains. 


TWIN    ROSES.  97 

The  orange  blossoms  grew  beneath  Jeannie's 
fingers,  sometimes  until  earth's  own  dewy  off- 
spring were  expanding  at  Aurora's  kiss.  And 
Jeannie,  as  she  worked,  breathed  a  blessing  with 
every  bud,  and  fondly  fancied  that  it  might  be 
interwoven  with  the  threads. 

Now  and  then  she  gazed  at  the  lovely  slum- 
berer,  and  whispered,  "  who  could  help  loving 
her  ?  better  thus — better  thus !  " 

At  these  moments  many  a  gust  of  bygone 
memories  thrilled  her  frame.  No  mortal  eyes 
were  upon  her,  and  she  might  weep  her  full  heart 
lighter.  But  when  Herman  or  Jessie  was  near, 
her  forced  calmness  was  never  ruffled.  No 
chance-dropped  words  ever  betrayed  the  throes 
of  her  perturbed  spirit.  Even  to  the  end,  she 
succeeded  in  guarding  Herman  from  the  life-long 
pang  which  a  knowledge — a  suspicion  of  her 
anguish,  would  have  inflicted.  If  there  can  be 
holy  artifice,  it  was  that  which  caused  him  to 
think  that  she  had  mistaken  her  own  heart — that 
she  had  never  really  surrendered  it  to  his  false 
guardianship. 

Dorothy  had  entreated  Jessie  to  allow  her  to 
officiate  as  bridesmaid.  Jessie,  who  felt  that  no 
one  could  fill  the  place  her  sister  was  unable  to 
occupy,  reluctantly  consented. 


98  TWIN    ROSES. 

Then  Sylvester  diffidently  solicited  the  honor 
of  being  groomsman.  His  sister  had  hinted  to 
him  that  this  mark  of  generosity  on  his  part 
would  please  Jeannie. 

Herman  could  not  refuse. 

The  morning  of  the  bridal  arrived.  The 
theatre  had  closed  on  the  night  previous  for  a 
week,  as  there  was  a  grand  spectacle  in  prepara- 
tion. 

Herman  had  thus  the  opportunity  of  bearing 
away  his  bride  to  some  rural  seclusion.  He  had 
chosen  Hampstead. 

The  marriage  ceremony  was  to  take  place  at 
nine  o'clock. 

It  was  early  morning.  Jeannie  and  Jessie  had 
risen,  had  knelt  side  by  side,  had  each  silently 
offered  up  a  prayer,  but  the  prayers  of  the  sisters 
were,  oh  !  how  different ! 

Jessie,  after  assisting  her  sister  as  usual  to 
make  her  toilet,  hurriedly  commenced  her  own. 
How  brightly  she  smiled  as  she  held  up  the  soft, 
white,  bridal  robe  !  How  admiringly  she  gazed 
upon  the  delicate  embroidery!  How  little  she 
dreamed  of  the  tears  with  which  those  flowers 
had  been  watered  !  Of  the  blessings  (their 
heavenly  sunshine)  under  which  they  had  grown! 

And  now  Jessie  kneels  by  h.-r  sister's  side,  and 


TWIN    ROSES.  99 

Jeannie's  loving  fingers  fasten  white  blossoms  in 
the  young  bride's  darkly  shining  locks.  Those 
flowers  were  gathered  from  the  tiny  hanging-gar- 
den beneath  the  window.  Jessie  would  wear  no 
others. 

Suddenly  Mrs.  Budd  bursts  into  the  room,  fol- 
lowed by  Dorothy. 

"  Not  ready  yet !  Not  ready  !  Make  haste — 
no  time  to  lose ;  not  a  moment  to  spare.  How 
beautiful  you  do  look,  to  be  sure  ! " 

"  I  think  so  myself,  Jess,"  chimed  in  Dorothy. 
"  Poor  Syl — "  but  she  checked  herself,  and  added, 
"might  be  worse,  might  be  worse.  I  dare  say 
something  will  happen  that  will  please  me  as 
well." 

Jeannie  could  not  accompany  her  sister  to  the 
church ;  her  lameness,  which  of  late  seemed  to 
have  increased,  forbade. 

The  needlewomen  of  the  wardrobe  now  prayed 
to  be  admitted,  and  every  one  had  a  kind  word 
for  Jessie.  Many  of  them  presented  her  with 
humble  tokens  of  affection. 

Though  the  theatre  was  closed,  this  was  no 
holiday  for  them.  There  was  wardrobe- work  al- 
ways to  be  done.  Their  task-master,  Mr.  Brown, 
had  grumbled  at  their  desire  to  accompany  Jessie 
to  church.  When  they  promised  to  sew  for  a 


100  TWIN    ROSES. 

couple  of  hours  extra  that  night,  he  sulkily  con- 
sented, adding  that  he  should  go  with  them  to 
the  wedding,  just  to  see  that  they  returned  home 
and  got  to  work  without  delay. 

"  Is  not  that  Mr.  Lander's  step  ?"  asked  Liza. 

At  the  words  Jessie  flung  herself  into  Jeannie's 
arms  and  clung  to  her  tightly.  They  were  to 
part — she  felt  it  now — she  could  never  believe  it 
before  !  Life  was  to  become  wholly  new  to  her ! 
Strange  sensations,  never  experienced  until  that 
moment,  came  sweeping  over  her  spirit,  until  they 
wholly  overpowered  her. 

Herman  entered.  The  bridegroom  spoke  in 
his  looks,  his  steps,  his  mien,  his  voice. 

Jessie's  face  was  hidden  in  her  sister's  bosom. 
As  he  approached  and  tenderly  sought  to  disen- 
gage her  from  that  trie  resting-place,  Jeannie's 
eyes  met  his !  Involuntarily,  in  spite  of  all  her 
strong  self-control,  she  gave  him  one  agonized 
look,  and  a  sharp  cry,  which  startled  every  one, 
broke  from  her  pale  lips. 

Jessie  lifted  up  her  head,  affrighted. 

"What  is  it,  sister?" 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Jeannie  ?  What  is  the 
matter  ?  "  asked  many  voices. 

"  Nothing ! "  she  murmured  faintly.  Her  eyes 
closed  as  though  she  were  about  to  swoon.  But 


TWIN    ROSES.  101 

no — they  were    only    shutting    out  what    they 
could  not — dared  not  look  upon. 

Jessie's  anxious  queries  and  caresses  forced  her 
to  make  one  more  mighty  effort. 

"  Our  Lord  bless  you,  my  sister,  and  him  too ! 
Now  go — go  ! " 

She  did  not  again  lift  her  eyes  to  Herman's 
face.  He  took  Jessie's  hand  and  paused  as 
though  about  to  utter  a  few  words  to  Jeannie. 

She  repeated  again,  and  in  a  tone  so  suppli- 
cating that  no  one  could  disobey.  "  Go ! — go 
all — go  at  once  ! " 

Sylvester  had  entered  with  Herman.  He  set 
the  example  by  giving  his  arm  to  his  sister,  and 
leaving  the  chamber,  to  show  his  prompt  com- 
pliance with  Jeannie' s  request.  Mrs.  Budd,  for 
once  tongue-tied,  passed  out  in  silence.  The 
others  followed. 

Last  of  all,  Herman  led  Jessie  away. 

But  her  head  was  turned  towards — her  eyes 
fixed  upon,  her  sister. 

Just  as  they  crossed  the  door-sill  the  bulfinch 
burst  forth  in  one  of  his  most  joyous  songs. 
Jessie  smiled  her  thanks  for  the  unexpected 
epithalamium.  The  song  drowned  the  faint 
groan  which  escaped  Jeannie's  lips,  and  it  did 
not  reach  Jessie's  happy  ear. 
9* 


102  TWIN   ROSES. 

As  Herman's  arm  fondly  encircled  her  waist, 
and  his  loving  words  sank  deep  into  her  heart, 
she  only  felt,  in  the  fulness,  the  completeness  of 
her  joy,  that 

"  God's  gifts  put  man's  best  dreams  to  shame." 

But  Jeannie — alas!  for  her.  The  last  golden 
gleam  of  her  one  day-dream  of  love  had  faded 
out  of  life's  horizon  forever. 

They  were  all  gone.  Their  retreating  steps  no 
longer  reached  her  ears.  The  only  sound  that 
broke  the  silence  was  the  loud  warbling  of  the 
bird. 

She  lay  with  closed  eyes,  yet  she  still  beheld 
that  bridal  pair.  She  saw  that  young  bride  who 
was  so  thoroughly  one  with  herself  that  to  yield 
her  to  another  caused  a  pang  as  full  of  anguish 
as  that  which  severs  soul  and  body, — she  saw 
that  young  bridegroom  whom  she  had  loved  with 
all  the  strength,  the  tenderness  of  her  newly 
awakened  heart, — saw  him  plight  a  lasting  troth, 
and  then  her  bosom  heaved  convulsively,  the 
great  sobs  gushed  forth,  until  the  startled  bird 
suddenly  ceased  his  song.  Blessed — blessed 
relief  of  tears!  not  utterly  wretched  are  they  who 
can  weep. 

"  Strengthen   me,   oh !    my   God !     Teach    me 


TWIN   ROSES.  103 

perfect  self-renunciation !  Teach  me  to  give  up 
all,  not  in  outward  act  only,  but  in  spirit !  Let 
him  be  wholly  hers  as  she  is  wholly  his — wholly, 
wholly!" 

The  dove  of  peace  descended  as  this  prayer 
rose  to  the  gates  of  Heaven.  A  heavenly  calm 
spread  itself  over  her  almost  glorified  counte- 
nance. An  expression  of  dependent  love,  of  un- 
alloyed resignation,  of  ineffable  serenity,  beamed 
in  her  upraised  eyes.  The  victory  was  won! 
She  had  triumphed  over  the  last  rebellious  upris- 
ing of  her  nature ! 

When  the  nuptial  party  returned,  she  greeted, 
not  the  bride  only,  but  her  bridegroom, — greeted 
them  almost  gaily.  She  offered  her  cheek  to 
Herman  as  to  a  brother. 

He  pressed  it  with  glowing  lips  and  exclaimed, 
"  Doubly — doubly  my  sister,  how  much  I  owe 
you!" 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  smiling,  "  I  have  given 
you  all  I  have ;  my  dearer  self  for  wife,  myself 
for  sister.  Shall  we  not  be  very  happy  in  the 
husband  and  brother  we  gain  ?  " 


104  TWIN   ROSES. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

TEMPTATION. 

WITH  Herman  and  Jessie,  time  fled  on  pinions, 
rainbow-tinted,  during  that  bridal  week, — but 
dropped  his  sands  slowly,  evenly,  in  Jeannie's 
quiet  chamber.  Yet,  day  after  day,  those  sands 
seemed  to  grow  brighter  as  they  fell  and  the 
shadow  that  rested  on  her  spirit  hourly  became 
lighter.  The  heart-rending  struggle  was  quite 
over.  Tempting  spirits,  that  had  tortured  with 
their  vaguely  whispered  hopes,  were  all  silenced 
now.  The  cross  was  heavy,  but  the  uplifting, 
not  the  bearing,  caused  her  agony.  With  reso- 
lute hands  she  had  placed  it  on  her  shoulder ; 
once  there,  its  burden  was  endurable. 

The  mirthful  Dorothy  and  her  lachrymose 
brother,  noisy  Mrs.  Budd,  and  busy  Mr.  Brown, 
paid  the  recluse  frequent  visits ; — to  prevent  her 
being  lonely,  they  said.  But  solitude,  to  her, 
brought  no  loneliness.  She  found  companion- 
ship in  the  images  of  beauty,  the  storied  present- 
ments, that  surrounded  her ;  in  books  that  talked 


TWIN  ROSES.  105 

to  her,  and  peopled  her  chamber  with  ideal  crea- 
tions,— in  her  pleasant,  placid  thoughts. 

The  meeting  of  the  twin  sisters,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  week,  was  full  of  rapture.  Jeannie 
and  Herman  greeted  each  other  with  the  affec- 
tionate frankness  of  brother  and  sister.  Jessie's 
countenance  was  radiant  with  perfected  joy.  All 
her  day-dreams  of  thorough  congeniality  of  heart, 
and  mind,  and  tastes,  were  fulfilled.  She  had 
nothing  left  to  ask  of  Heaven. 

Hour  after  hour  she  sat  by  her  sister's  side 
and  her  fresh,  innocent  transport  flowed  forth  in 
words.  She  told  her  of  the  exhilarating  rides  on 
Hampstead  heath — of  the  long,  delightful  ram- 
bles— of  the  hours  that  glided  away  as  they 
reclined  beneath  the  trees,  while  Herman  read  to 
her  and  she  listened,  entranced.  And  who  ever 
read  so  eloquently  as  Herman  ? 

"  I  almost  forgot  I  had  ever  breathed  the  close, 
gasodorous  atmosphere  of  a  theatre,  in  my  life ! 
How  dim  and  dreary,  and  full  of  hollo wn  ess  and 
vanity  everything  looked  when  I  returned! — 
everything  but  this  sweet  chamber, — that  always 
appears  to  be  a  sanctuary." 

With  the  reopening  of  the  theatre,  Herman 
and  Jessie  resumed  their  professional  duties. 

A  few  months  passed  on  and  Herman's  lover- 


106  TWIN   ROSES. 

like  devotion  had  scarcely  abated,  and  Jessie's 
full  chalice  was  still  brimming  over  in  sparkling, 
bubbling  sweetness. 

Herman's  resources  at  the  banker's  were  now 
exhausted  ;  he  and  Jessie  were  wholly  dependent 
upon  their  small  salary.  His  means  had  never 
before  been  restricted.  Economy  had  seemed 
easy  in  theory — but  its  practice  subjected  him  to 
continual  irritation  and  mortification.  In  his 
thoughtlessness  he  constantly  plunged  into  need- 
lessly lavish  expenditures,  while  Jessie  silently 
stinted  herself  even  of  necessaries.  His  generous 
nature,  and  the  liberality  to  which  he  had  been 
accustomed,  rendered  him  peculiarly  sensitive  to 
any  chance  allusion  to  their  poverty.  Thus  Jessie 
could  not  press  upon  him  the  need  of  retrenchment. 

Herman  still  enacted  the  roles  of  second  walk- 
ing gentlemen,  characters,  as  Washington  Irving 
styles  them,  "  above  the  fear  of  a  hiss,  below  the 
hope  of  applause."  These  could  not  satisfy  his 
histrionic  ambition — could  not  supply  the  excite- 
ment for  which  his  restless  spirit  constantly 
craved.  Now  that  Jessie  was  his,  he  lacked  the 
stirring  alternations  of  hope  and  fear — the  stimu- 
lus of  uncertainty — the  inspiring  ardor  of  pursuit. 
His  superabundant  energies  once  more  struggled 
wildly  to  find  some  satisfying  vent. 


TWIN  ROSES.  107 

Slowly,  unwillingly,  Jessie  marked  a  change 
which  she  could  not  comprehend.  She  no  longer 
shared  all  his  thoughts ;  there  was  no  longer  per- 
fect community  of  feeling  between  them ; — that 
certainty  forced  itself  upon  her  startled  conscious- 
ness. 

He  often  absented  himself  the  instant  rehearsal 
was  over ;  he  had  an  engagement,  he  said,  but 
without  explaining  its  nature.  Jessie  was  too 
timid,  and  too  confiding,  to  question  him.  At 
night,  when  the  play  was  over,  Herman  and 
Jessie  usually  passed  a  few  minutes  with  Jeannie, 
and  returned  to  their  lodgings.  Then  Herman 
would  make  some  hurried  or  laughing  excuse, — 
kiss  her  hastily,  tell  her  to  "  go  to  bed  like  a  good 
girl,"  and,  adding  that  he  would  be  back  soon, 
precipitately  leave  her. 

Jessie  pondered,  wondered  over  these  myste- 
rious engagements ;  but  she  trusted  him  wholly. 
She  persuaded  herself  that  he  had  good  and  wise 
reasons  for  not  communicating  them  to  her.  She 
never  arraigned  him  before  the  tribunal  of  her 
own  judgment,  and  there  convicted  him  of  un- 
kindness.  She  struggled  resolutely  against  a 
sense  of  desolation.  She  had  never  before  felt 
alone.  Often  she  sat  musing,  arguing  with  her- 
self, counting  the  strokes  which  rang  from  the 


108  TWIN  ROSES. 

neighboring  steeples,  until  she  heard  Herman's 
returning  step,  it  might  be  at  one,  two,  or  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  As  she  sprang  to  meet 
him,  his  absence  was  forgotten  in  the  joy  of  his 
return. 

It  was  on  one  of  these  occasions  that  a  re- 
proach, for  the  first  time,  fell  from  Herman's  lips. 
Why  had  she  not  retired?  Why  did  she  sit 
there  watching  at  what  hour  he  returned,  to 
rebuke  him  for  his  absence  ? 

"  Rebuke  you,  Herman  ?  "  exclaimed  Jessie  in 
surprise. 

"  Yes,  your  sitting  up  rebukes  me,"  he  an- 
swered with  asperity. 

His  cheeks  were  flushed,  his  eyes  glittered,  his 
hand  was  tremulous.  But  these  were  signs  that 
Jessie  had  not  learned  to  interpret. 

From  that  night  she  always  retired  when  Her- 
man left  her.  When  he  gazed  upon  her  counte- 
nance, on  his  return,  he  found  her  eyes  closed 
and  believed  that  the  seal  of  unconsciousness 
was  upon  them.  Like  Desdemona,  she  was  "  a 
child  to  chiding,"  and  shrank  from  unmerited 
blame.  Poor  trembler,  it  was  her  first  deception. 

The  roseate  hues  that  hitherto  insphered  her 
life,  seemed  slowly,  incomprehensibly  melting 
away. 


TWIN   ROSES.  109 

One  disappointment,  one  trial,  far  exceeded  all 
others.  Religion  was  the  first,  the  strongest  im- 
pulse of  her  nature.  She  could  more  easily  have 
existed  without  light  and  heat  than  without  daily 
recognition  of  the  blessings,  the  mercies  of  her 
Lord. 

During  the  sunshiny  days  of  courtship,  the 
happy  months  of  early  marriage,  Herman  ap- 
peared fully  to  share  in  these  devotional  aspira- 
tions. Then  the  subject  gradually  occupied  fewer 
and  fewer  of  his  thoughts.  His  passionate  love 
for  Jessie  had  awakened,  or  included,  love  for  all 
things  holy.  As  that  love  calmed  in  its  ardor, 
the  love  of  heavenly  things  grew  cold.  Not  that 
he  was  ever  skeptical;  not  that  he  doubted  the 
existence,  the  goodness  of  a  Creator,  a  Saviour. 
But  man's  duty  to  his  God,  his  accountability 
for  every  moment  of  his  existence,  ceased  to  be 
matters  of  constant  reflection,  of  daily,  hourly 
importance,  as  they  were  to  the  sisters. 

To  what  bosom  but  Jeannie's  could  Jessie  fly 
for  refuge?  To  whom  but  Jeannie  could  she 
confide  her  grief,  her  fears  ? 

Jeannie  strove   to   reassure   her.      "  The  good 

seed  takes  time  to  grow ;  it  cannot  bring  forth 

fruit  at  once.     Let  us  believe  that  it  is  planted 

in  his  mind  with  the  divine  truths  he  has  learned, 

10 


110  TWIN   ROSES. 

and  that  there  will  be  fruition  at  some  future 
day." 

"  But  should  it  be  as  the  good  seed  described 
in  the  Word,  which  springs  up  at  once,  and 
having  no  root  endureth  but  for  a  season ! " 
answered  Jessie  in  a  tone  of  anguish. 

"  I  cannot  think  that,"  replied  Jeannie.  "  His 
very  love  for  you  will  protect  and  make  it  bear 
hereafter." 

"  His  love  for  me !  Ah,  Jeannie,  I  cannot  for- 
get my  day-dreams;  how  thoroughly  united  I 
believed  our  hearts  to  be ;  how  responsive  all  our 
thoughts ;  how  Heaven-centred  our  hopes  !  How 
perfect  I  thought  our  oneness  of  spirit ! " 

"  My  sister,  it  was  well,  it  was  right  that  you 
should  have  thought  so  before  you  united  your- 
self to  him  or  to  any  man.  But  that  perfect 
spiritual  union  of  which  you  are  thinking  can 
only  exist  where  both  parties  are  regenerate ;  and 
it  must  be  progressive,  even  as  regeneration  is 
progressive.  Our  Lord  regenerates  no  two  be- 
ings in  the  same  way;  not  even  us — who  are 
twin  sisters.  My  trials  are  different  from  your — 
yours  from  mine,  because  we  need  different  sor- 
rows as  means  of  purification." 

"  But  should  the  day — the  dreadful  day,  ever 
come  when  I  shalj  feel  that  our  hearts  are  di- 


TWIN   ROSES.  Ill 

vided — that  our  union  is  not  for  here  and  here- 
after— that " 

Jeannie  interrupted  her  with  great  tenderness, 
"  Heaven  leads  us  to  such  beings  upon  earth  as 
we  can  most  benefit,  or,  to  such  as  can  most 
benefit  us.  Where  there  is  deep  attachment, 
internal  dissimilitudes  do  not  appear  before  mar- 
riage. Love  may  be  intense,  and  yet  not  spirit- 
ual. But  it  is  only  a  selfish  spirit  that  is  im- 
mersed in  sorrowful  yearnings  for  congeniality, 
and  neglects  the  holy  offices  it  may  perform  for 
the  one  to  whom  it  is  united.  In  many  cases,  if 
two  thoroughly  congenial  beings  were  conjoined 
in  this  world,  they  would  confirm  each  other  in 
evils ;  or,  dormant  evil,  lying  deep  in  the  soul, 
might  not  be  excited,  and  thus  made  known  and 
combated.  Bear  in  mind,  dear  sister,  that  life 
is  but  a  preparatory  school  in  which  we  are  fit- 
ting for  a  higher ;  and  learn  its  lessons  meekly." 

"  I  will — I  will,"  answered  Jessie  with  emotion. 
"  Our  Lord  knows  in  what  manner  his  children 
can  best  be  brought  nearer  to  him,  and  gathered 
into  his  fold." 

"  Let  us  not  talk  of  it  any  more  to-day,  sister," 
added  Jeannie.  "  Perhaps  we  had  better  not  talk 
of  it  too  often  at  all.  It  is  a  subject  upon  which 
it  is  difficult  for  us  to  have  clear  light.  Let  us 


112  TWIN   ROSES. 

go  on  and  do  our  duty  patiently,  and  trust  the 
rest  to  Heaven." 

That  very  night  Jessie  had  a  new  and  fearful 
trial  to  undergo.  It  was  late  before  Herman 
came  to  take  her  to  the  theatre.  They  both  ap- 
peared in  the  first  scene  of  the  drama  to  be 
enacted.  It  was  almost  impossible,  rapidly  as 
she  moved,  to  complete  her  toilette  before  the 
curtain  rose. 

She  parted  with  Herman  at  the  door  of  her 
dressing-room,  and  did  not  see  him  again  until 
they  met  on  the  stage.  She  entered  upon  the 
scene  a  few  moments  before  him.  What  was 
her  consternation  when  she  beheld  him  approach 
in  a  costume  disordered  and  incomplete!  He 
wore  no  cap,  though  the  scene  was  in  the  street ; 
his  cavalier  cloak,  his  sash  and  sword,  had  been 
forgotten.  The  last  omission  was  of  moment, 
as  the  sword  was  needed  in  a  combat  to  be 
fought  before  he  left  the  stage. 

Fortunately  Jessie  made  her  exit  before  the 
encounter  commenced.  She  flew  to  his  dressing- 
room,  found  the  sword,  returned  with  it  to  the 
nearest  wing,  and  stood  trying  to  attract  Her- 
man's attention. 

He  caught  her  signal  only  at  the  moment 
when  his  "trusty  blade"  was  needed,  snatched 


TWIN   ROSES.  113 

the  weapon  hastily  from  her  hand,  and  without 
the  faintest  token  of  thanks,  returned  to  his  posi- 
tion on  the  stage. 

Jessie's  breast  heaved  with  suppressed  emo- 
tion. She  was  turning  away — but  Hawkwood 
stood  at  her  elbow.  His  cat-like  eyes  peered  into 
her  face  with  malicious  triumph. 

"  Our  noble  consort  is  doing  himself  credit 
to-night, — is  he  not  ?  Reflecting  new  honor  upon 
his  adopted  profession.  Not  very  grateful,  I 
must  say,  for  your  wifely  attentions.  Rather 
weak  in  the  memory  too  !  I  suppose  you  know 
the  meaning  of  that  ?  "  he  added  significantly. 

"  Of  what  ? "  she  questioned  in  an  absent 
manner. 

"  Of  that  forgetfulness — that  unfinished  cos- 
tume— that  uncertain  step.  Look !  look  at  it !  " 
and  he  pointed  to  Herman  as  he  crossed  the  stage 
with  a  gait  very  different  from  his  usual  firm 
and  manly  tread. 

"  "What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Jessie  hurriedly. 

"  Mean  ?  Only  that  he  is  making  daily  friends 
with  the  bottle  fiend ! "  cried  Hawkwood  with  a 
bitter  laugh. 

For  the  first  time  the  truth,  or  rather  a  portion 
of  the  fatal  truth,  flashed  with  withering  vivid- 
ness on  Jessie's  mind.  She  was  blinded  and 
10* 


114  TWIN  ROSES. 

stunned  for  a  moment.     If  she  had  not  grasped 
the  arm  of  Hawkwood,  she  must  have  fallen. 

"  Poor  thing ! "  he  said  in  a  tone  that  was 
meant  for  one  of  pity;  "You  have  made  your 
bed  and  must  lie  upon  it,  as  the  saying  is." 

"  Don't !  don't  speak  to  me ! "  gasped  Jessie 
feebly,  and  making  an  effort  to  support  herself 
without  his  assistance.  "  If  it  be  true — but  no — 
it  cannot  be !  " 

At  that  moment  Herman  passed  from  the  stage 
at  an  exit  just  below  where  they  stood.  Jessie 
ran  to  him  and  took  his  arm.  As  her  loving, 
anxious  eyes  scanned  his  face,  he  seemed  half 
inclined  to  shake  her  off;  but  no — he  could  not 
do  that !  He  only  assumed  an  air  of  unmeaning 
hilurity  and  said,  "  What's  the  matter,  little  wife? 
Have  you  lost  something  that  you  expect  to  find 
in  my  face  ?  " 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Herman,  dear  ?  " 
she  asked  with  serious  tenderness. 

It  was  an  ill-advised  question ;  it  irritated 
Herman,  who  was  not  perfect  master  of  himself. 
He  broke  forth  in  a  confused  torrent  of  re- 
proaches ;  charging  her  with  suspicions — with 
watching  him — with  want  of  trust — want  of 
proper  respect  and  affection. 

Jessie  clung  to  his  arm,  trembling  violently ;  she 


TWIN   ROSES.  115 

could  only  shake  her  head,  but  neither  expostu- 
lated with  him  nor  defended  herself.  Instinct 
taught  her  that,  at  this  crisis,  words  would  be 
useless. 

The  next  moment  both  were  summoned  to  the 
stage. 

Wherever  Jessie  moved,  whatever  by-play  the 
business  of  the  scene  required,  her  eyes  could  not 
turn  from  her  husband,  but  his  eyes  never  once 
met  hers. 

That  night  she  spent  but  a  minute  at  her  sis- 
ter's side.  Though  Herman  did  not  accompany 
her  to  Jeannie's  chamber,  she  never  thought  of 
confiding,  even  to  that  sister,  the  new  sorrow 
with  which  she  had  been  visited.  Her  husband's 
short-comings  were  sacred.  It  was  not  for  a 
wife  to  make  them  known  to  any  human  being. 

In  silence  Herman  conducted  her  to  their  lodg- 
ings— then  left  her. 

He  did  not  return  until  the  first  morning 
streaks  were  glowing  in  the  sky.  Jessie  seemed 
to  be  slumbering — she  did  not  dare  to  greet 
him — to  utter  a  word — to  stir,  until  his  heavy 
breathing  attested  that  he  had  sunk  into  profound 
repose. 

The  next  morning  brought  its  ten  o'clock 
rehearsal,  as  usual.  Herman  looked  pale  and 


116  TWIN   ROSES. 

haggard.  His  eyes  rolled  wildly — his  lips  con- 
stantly moved,  now  inaudibly,  now  muttered 
numbers  could  be  heard.  Even  as  he  stood  on 
the  stage,  rehearsing,  his  abstraction  was  appar- 
ent to  every  one.  His  hands  seemed  to  hold 
something  in  fancy  which  he  was  shuffling.  His 
fingers  moved  nervously. 

With  vulture-like  ferocity  Mr.  Hawkwood 
hovered  around  Jessie,  ready  to  make  a  sudden 
stoop,  and  plunge  his  cruel  beak  into  her  heart. 
The  frightened  dove  beheld  him,  but  fluttered 
vainly  to  escape.  The  first  moment  that  she 
stands  alone,  he  is  at  her  side,  and  his  harsh  voice 
jarring  every  chord  of  her  spirit. 

"  Have  you  solved  the  rest  of  the  riddle  ?  Do 
you  know  the  meaning  of  that  ?  "  he  questioned 
savagely. 

"  Pray  don't  talk  to  me ! — I  am  busy — I  am 
trying  to  study  my  part ; "  and  Jessie  opened  the 
book  in  her  hand  and  looked  intently  on  the 
page. 

"  You  have  been  studying  a  more  difficult  part 
all  the  morning  ;  are  you  quite  up  in  it  ?  Do  you 
find  the  Gambler's  wife  easy  ?  " 

"Gambler!  oh!  Heaven!" 

"  Oh !  you  didn't  know  it  before — eh  ?  Didn't 
know  that  the  gaming  table,  and  its  conse- 


TWIN   ROSES.  117 

quences,  had  stolen  from  you  your  husband,  and 
that  he  is  going  fast  to  ruin  !  " 

"  Not  ruin — not " 

"  Ask  him  then,  I've  been  watching  him  for 
some  time.  I  predicted  that  young  man's  fate, 
and  I  usually  see  my  predictions  verified. 
Though,  of  course,  it's  very  repugnant  to  my 
feelings.  One  night  he  wins  largely — the  next 
he  loses  more  largely;  thus  the  excitement  is 
always  kept  up.  But  the  end — oh !  that's  the 
rub — the  end !  " 

"  What  are  you  doing,  you  old  brute,  making 
this  poor,  young  creature  wretched  with  your 
wicked  tales  ?  "  broke  in  the  shrill  voice  of  Dor- 
othy. 

Jessie  turned  to  her  for  refuge. 

"  Did  you  hear  him,  Dolly  ?  It  is  not  true,  is 
it  ?  "  and  she  looked  as  though  existence  hung  on 
the  answer. 

"  Let  her  deny  it  if  she  can !  She's  no  fool ! 
She  knows  what  everybody  else  knows,"  said 
Hawkwood. 

"  I  dare  say  he  plays  a  little — most  men  do ; 
that's  nothing  ! "  retorted  Dorothy,  apologetically. 
"  It  might  be  a  great  deal  worse — I  don't  believe 
he  ventures  everything.  And  he  don't  ill  treat 
you.  He's  a  kind  husband.  You  see  it  might 


118  TWIN   ROSES. 

be  much — much  worse.  He  loves  you,  I'm 
sure." 

«Oh!  Dolly!  Dolly!" 

"  There,  dear  lamb,  don't  take  on  about  it ! — 
I  wish  that  abominable  Hawkwood  had  his 
tongue  slit.  That's  your  call.  Go  on  and  play 
your  best.  Don't  let  these  little  troubles  interfere 
with  business — that  would  be  to  make  matters 
worse,  indeed." 

The  revelation  of  that  night  did  not  alienate 
Jessie  from  her  husband.  She  became  gentler, 
more  affectionate  to  him  than  ever.  She  knew 
that  our  own  states  affect  those  around  us  and 
that  a  loving  heart  will  draw  down  heavenly 
influences  into  the  most  adverse  circumstances. 
When  Herman,  in  his  moments  of  excitement, 
spoke  roughly  to  her,  she  remembered  that  "kind- 
ness in  ourselves  is  the  honey  that  blunts  the 
sting  of  unkindness  in  others."  *  She  forbore  to 
reproach  him  even  in  thought.  She  whispered 
to  herself  those  comforting  lines : — 

"  The  fall  thou  darest  to  despise, 
May  be  the  slackened  angel's  hand 
Has  suil'i-ivil  it  tluit  he  in:iy  rise 
And  take  :i  lininT,  surer  stand, 
Or,  trusting  less  to  earthly  tilings, 
May  henceforth  le:irn  to  use  his  wings." 

*  \V.  S.  Landor. 


TWIN    ROSES.  119 


CHAPTER  IX. 

AN    ANGEL    IN    THE    HOUSE. 

SOON  after  the  incidents  related  in  the  preced- 
ing chapter,  the  precious  promise  of  maternity 
compelled  Jessie  to  retire  from  the  stage. 

A  portion  of  every  day,  and  all  heV  evenings, 
were  now  passed  in  Jeannie's  little  chamber. 
This  constant,  intimate  communion  of  the  sisters 
reclasped  that  one  link  of  the  holy  chain  which 
Jessie's  marriage  threatened  to  sever. 

Herman  alternated  between  states  of  induced 
exhilaration,  and  fits  of  depression  and  contrition, 
only  betrayed  in  overflowings  of  tenderness  to 
his  wife.  Her  influence  affected  him  uncon- 
sciously. Patience,  with  its  silent,  hidden  work- 
ings, is  all-powerful  in  its  sway.  No  truly  manly 
nature  was  ever  yet  impervious  to  woman's  for- 
bearing, smiling  patience.  It  is  the  invisible 
sceptre  which  she  never  wields  in  vain. 

Thus  months  passed  on. 

It  is  morning  in  the  tiny,  picturesque  apart- 
ment at  the  top  of  the  theatre.  Jeannie  has  fed 


120  TWIN    ROSES. 

her  bulfinch,  and  watered  and  trimmed  her 
flowers,  for,  with  the  support  of  her  crutches,  she 
manages  to  perform  these  pleasant  duties,  un- 
aided. She  has  lain  down  again  and  taken  up 
her  work.  She  is  growing  anxious,  for  the  hour 
of  Jessie's  daily  visit  has  passed. 

There  is  a  hurried  knock  at  the  door.  Before 
she  can  answer,  Herman  rushes  in.  His  lips  are 
colorless,  his  countenance  livid  from  agitation. 

"  Jeannie,  you  must  come — come  to  her 
quickly !  43he  will  die — my  poor  Jessie — she  will 
die!" 

Jeannie  only  replied  by  her  terrified  look  as 
she  sprang  up  and  seized  a  shawl  which  lay 
near. 

"  I  have  a  cab  at  the  door — I  will  carry  you  in 
my  arms." 

She  assented.  He  lifted  her  light  form  with 
as  little  effort  as  though  she  had  been  a  child,  and 
bore  her  rapidly  through  the  wardrobe. 

Jeannie's  presence  of  mind  did  not  totally  for- 
sake her.  "  Send  Mrs.  Budd  to  us,  Liza, — my 
sister  is  very  ill,"  she  said,  without  desiring  Her- 
man to  pause. 

They  drove  rapidly  to  Jessie's  lodgings.  Her- 
man's emotion  was  too  intense  for  language. 
He  had  exchanged  but  few  words  with  Jeannie 


TWIN    HOSES.  121 

when  he  carried  her  into  the  chamber  and  placed 
her  on  one  side  of  the  bed  where  lay  her  sister. 

Jessie,  whose  face  was  convulsed  by  throes  of 
agony,  looked  the  gratitude  she  could  not  utter. 

For  two  days  her  spirit  hovered  on  the  borders 
of  eternity.  • 

Jeannie  never  left  her  side — never  slept,  hardly 
unlocked  for  an  instant  the  hand  that  tightly 
grasped  hers. 

Neither  the  entreaties  of  Mrs.  Budd,  who 
had  obeyed  Jeannie's  summons,  nor  the  com- 
mands of  the  physician,  could  force  Herman  from 
the  chamber.  He  hung  over  his  wife  with  frantic 
devotion,  reproached  himself  as  unworthy  of  the 
treasure  that  was  now  to  be  snatched  away  from 
him,  and  every  instant  thought  to  see  the  thread  of 
life,  drawn  to  its  utmost  tension,  wholly  broken. 

Suddenly  the  low  moans  which  tortured  the 
ears  of  the  watchers,  were  changed  to  a  great  cry 
of  mingled  agony  and  joy.  It  was  followed  by 
a  faint  wail.  The  piercing,  yet  half-jubilant  cry, 
broke  from  the  young  mother's  lips — the  wail 
issued,  with  its  first  breath,  from  the  tiny  mouth 
of  her  infant  daughter. 

What  language  can  paint  the  ecstacy  of  the 
father — the  joyful,  but  voiceless  thanksgiving  of 
the  young  mother,  and  her  twin  sister!  What 
11 


122  TWIN    ROSES. 

pen — aye,  what  brush  could  transfer  to  paper  or 
canvass,  the  ineffable  beauty  of  Jessie's  counte- 
nance, illumined  by  the  first  glorifying  ray  of 
maternity  ?  The  angelic  light  that  threw  an 
almost  visible  halo  around  her  brow,  such  as 
Raphael  might  have  striven  in  vain  to  catch,  when 
the  infant  was  laid  in  her  arms,  and  she  looked 
up  from  its  soft  face  into  Herman's ! 

When  Jeannie,  in  her  rapt  felicity,  felt  that 
celestial  beings  filled  the  chamber,  and  gathered 
around  the  new-born  soul  they  were  commis- 
sioned to  guard,  was  she  merely  a  dreamer — a 
senseless  visionary  ? 

The  curtains  are  drawn,  and  there  is  darkness 
and  silence  in  the  room,  for  the  exhausted  mother, 
"  faint  with  the  sense  of  pain-bought  happiness," 
sleeps'with  the  infant  on  her  bosom. 

Jeannie  still  lies  beside  her  sister,  with  closed 
eyes,  but  waking  thoughts.  Herman  has  been 
banished  from  the  apartment.  Mrs.  Budd  is 
comfortably  curled  in  her  arm  chair,  and,  if  cer- 
tain discordant  signals  may  be  trusted,  she  too  is 
slumbering  after  her  protracted  vigil. 

When  Jessie  awoke,  fever,  attended  with  deli- 
rium, became  apparent.  She  saw  myriads  of 
cherub  heads  floating  about  her  bed,  and  each 
countenance  resembled  that  of  the  babe  in  her 


TWIN    HOSES.  123 

arms.  She  could  not  shut  out  the  infantile  band. 
Ever  and  anon  she  sank  to  rest,  but  the  instant 
her  eyes  unclosed  she  beheld  it  again. 

Another  night  and  another  day  and  the  fever 
had  subsided.  Her  state  had  changed  to  one  of 
calm  consciousness.  All  her  symptoms  now 
argued  a  steady,  though  not  very  rapid,  recovery. 

Few  men  are  attracted  towards  very  young  in- 
fants. The  masculine  imagination  is  seldom  fine 
enough  to  picture,  while  gazing  on  the  small  un- 
expanded  bud,  the  brilliant  tints,  the  graceful 
unfolding  of  the  flower.  But  Herman  was  an 
exception  to  this  rule.  To  him  the  very  helpless- 
ness of  infancy  pleaded  for  love  and  subdued  his 
heart.  He  was  drawn,  as  by  a  spell,  to  his  child's 
cradle,  and  while  he  lingered  there,  all  the  finest, 
purest  emotions  of  father  and  husband  were 
quickened  within  him. 

Jeannie  did  not  return  to  her  own  home  for  six 
weeks.  By  that  time  Jessie  was  able  to  visit 
her. 

The  gates  of  a  new  paradise  had  been  thrown 
open  to  the  young  mother.  The  simplest,  com- 
monest wild  flowers  that  grew  there  filled  her 
with  delight.  The  touch  of  her  infant's  little 
hand  communicated  a  thrill  of  joy — its  first  smile 
made  her  heart  leap  and  swell — its  baby-crowing 


124  TWIN    ROSES. 

seemed  to  her  a  sort  of  miraculous  music,  and 
when  its  tiny  fingers  were  outstretched  to  catch 
a  sunbeam  that  played  around  its  pillow,  she 
thought  that  baby  hand  had  indeed  seized  and 
brought  down  from  on  high  a  beam  to  irradiate 
her  life. 

That  little  hand  too  had  touched  the  rock  in 
Herman's  bosom,  and  the  pent-up  waters  gushed 
freely  forth.  He  now  found  relief  in  pouring  out 
his  contrition — in  portraying  to  Jessie  his  temp- 
tations— his  errors ;  and  in  assuring  her  that  the 
dread  of  forfeiting  her  esteem  had  alone  induced 
concealment 

Herman  had  a  new  incentive  for  exertion,  and 
he  could  now  devote  himself  to  his  profession 
with  an  unburdened  bosom.  He  had  abandoned 
T!K-  gaming  table.  He  had  internally  vowed  that 
he  would  regain  his  own  self-respect  by  resisting 
its  allurements.  Man  may  fall,  but  demons  only 
do  not  rise  again. 

Herman,  in  the  gladness  of  his  heart,  had 
written  to  his  father,  announcing  the  birth  of 
the  little  Mildred — so  called  after  his  mother. 
No  answer  was  returned.  Herman  should  have 
known  the  consistency  and  firmness  of  his  father's 
character  too  well  to  have  expected  one. 

Jessie's   health    continued    very   delicate,   but 


TWIN   HOSES.  125 

before  her  child  was  three  months  old,  she  felt 
herself  compelled  to  return  to  her  professional 
duties.  Herman  remonstrated  at  first ;  but  they 
were  already  in  debt.  Herman's  salary  could 
not  supply  even  the  pressing  wants  of  his  little 
family,  though  all  the  product  of  Jeannie's  labor 
was  secretly  transferred  to  her  sister.  He  was 
forced  to  consent  to  Jessie's  exertions. 

They  could  not  afford  an  attendant  for  the 
child.  During  rehearsal  the  little  one  lay  in 
Jeannie's  chamber.  At  night,  too,  it  was  brought  t 
to  the  theatre,  well  wrapped  up,  and  carried 
home  in  the  young  father's  arms,  when  the  play 
was  over. 

Herman  was  still  galled  by  the  sense  of  pov- 
erty. His  sensitive  nature  was  nightly  wounded 
to  the  quick  when  he  beheld  Jessie  overtaxing 
her  strength  to  aid  in  obtaining  the  livelihood 
which  he  felt  it  was  his  duty  to  supply.  Yet  he 
resisted  the  entreaties  of  his  former  gay  associates 
to  "  redeem  his  fortunes,"  as  they  called  it,  at  the 
gaming  table. 

Mildred  was  now  a  year  old. 

This   first    year   of  her    maternity    threw   no 

shadows  on  Jessie.     The  child  was  a  new  and 

adamantine  link  of  union  between  her  and  her 

husband.     To   the  heaven-sent   little    messenger 

11  * 


126  TWIN   ROSES. 

there  seemed  to  have  been  appointed  the  earthly 
office  of  more  closely  intertwining  those  two 
spirits. 

The  ensuing  year  Herman  began  to  develop 
very  decided  scenic  talent.  Its  existence  would 
never  have  been  divined  by  those  who  beheld  his 
first  crude  and  bombastic  impersonation  of 
Hamlet.  The  captious  audience  rewarded  him, 
not  with  fluctuating  approval,  but  with  steady 
marks  of  favor.  His  ambition,  and  his  yearning 
for  stage  triumphs,  were  rekindled.  Applause 
was  an  exhilarating  stimulus.  The  delight  of 
embodying  ideal  heroes  thrilled  and  captivated 
him  anew.  Unusually  full  pieces  threw  him  into 
a  range  of  characters  where  his  dramatic  powers 
had  unwonted  scope.  Actors  who  held  a  higher 
position  were  seized  with  jealousy  when  he 
startled  the  audience  into  bursts  of  genuine  en- 
thusiasm. 

From  the  moment  that  they  regarded  him  in 
the  light  of  a  rival,  his  persecution  was  certain. 
He  had  now  gained  so  firm  a  foothold  on  the 
boards  that  he  would  not  have  yielded  an  inch  in 
fair  and  open  combat.  But  against  the  foe  in 
ambush,  what  weapons  avail  ? 

Private  influence,  exerted  over  the  manager, 
kept  him  out  of  parts  which  he  had  proved  him- 


TWIN   ROSES.  12T 

self  capable  of  delineating.  When  new  plays 
were  placed  upon  the  stage,  the  roles  that  legi- 
timately belonged  to  him  were  given  to  inferior 
artists ;  he  was  tormented  in  a  thousand  ways 
which  those  uninitiated  in  the  mysteries  of  thea- 
trical life  cannot  comprehend. 

The  old  spirit  of  restlessness  and  discontent 
returned.  This  field  was  not  wide  enough — his 
limbs  were  chained — his  faculties  paralyzed — he 
could  not  breathe  in  this  confined  atmosphere — 
he  must  seek  a  freer,  more  extensive  sphere  of 
activity  ;  the  sense  of  incompletion,  of  stagnation 
was  prostrating. 

It  was  while  these  thoughts  were  agitating  his 
mind  that,  in  an  evil  hour,  he  met  some  of  his 
former  reckless  associates.  They  once  more 
essayed,  and,  with  some  difficulty,  induced  him 
to  accompany  them.  He  protested  that  he  would 
only  watch  the  game,  he  would  not  play  himself; 
but  before  long  he  had  become  so  deeply  inter- 
ested that  he  forgot  every  thing,  and  yielding  to 
an  irresistible,  almost  maddening  impulse,  had 
broken  his  resolution ! 

He  won  largely,  and  was  highly  elated  with 
his  success.  He  returned  home  in  rollicking 
spirits,  inwardly  vowing  that  he  would  make  the 
best  of  his  good  luck,  but  never  touch  a  card 
again. 


128  TWIN  ROSES. 

Jessie's  quick,  wifely  eyes  saw  something  un- 
usual in  his  manner,  but  she  stifled  down  the 
rising  suspicion. 

The  next  day  he  made  a  number  of  purchases 
for  his  wife  and  child  which,  though  needful 
enough,  were  too  extravagant  for  their  means. 
Jessie  gently  warned  him  that  they  had  not  For- 
tunatus's  purse  in  their  possession. 

He  answered  hilariously,  "  It's  all  right,  dearest. 
You  see  I'm  not  running  in  debt;  I  have  paid 
for  them." 

"  Have  you  heard  from  your  father,  then  ?  " 
exclaimed  Jessie  hopefully. 

"  No — don't  ask  saucy  questions,  little  wo- 
man." 

A  shadow  passed  over  Jessie's  lucid  counte- 
nance. "Ah!  Herman — "  she  said  imploringly. 

"  There — there,  go  to  the  child,  she  wants  you ; 
and  don't  trouble  yourself  about  my  affairs." 

"  Your  affairs !  Are  not  our  affairs  the  same  ?  " 
rose  to  Jessie's  lips,  but  she  did  not  speak  the 
words. 

The  fever  and  its  unslaked  thirst  again  pos- 
sessed him.  He  grew  impatient,  untranquil, 
neglectful  of  study.  To  his  wife  and  child  he 
was,  if  possible,  more  affectionate  than  ever. 
Yet  he  spent  fewer  hours  in  their  society ;  and 


TWIN  ROSES.  129 

even  while  they  were  by  his  side,  his  thoughts 
were  wandering  elsewhere. 

He  could  hardly  have  told  how  it  occurred,  but 
he  found  himself  again  before  the  fatal  table. 

He  went  to  look  on,  as  before,  and,  as  before, 
he  played — as  before,  he  won  and  again  left  the 
table  with  the  suddenly  acquired  gold  swelling 
his  purse  and  making  his  heart  big. 

Intoxicated  with  success,  he  could  not  now 
withstand  the  temptation.  Every  day  brought 
its  exciting  risks.  Sometimes  he  won,  sometimes 
he  lost  heavily. 

One  night  Herman  returned  to  his  home,  al- 
most in  despair.  He  had  met  with  startling 
losses  in  the  morning ;  in  the  evening  he  had 
been  forced  to  enact  a  part  which  he  detested, 
and  which  did  not  belong  to  the  line  of  business 
for  which  he  was  engaged ;  he  had  seen  the  char- 
acter which  he  should  have  filled  winning  ap- 
plause for  another  ;  he  had  offended  the  audience 
by  his  careless  performance ;  had  been  reproved 
by  the  manager ;  had  answered  haughtily,  and 
accused  him  of  partiality  and  injustice !  Jessie 
witnessed  his  mortification,  and  strove  in  wo- 
manly ways  to  extract  its  sting.  Her  sympathy 
was  so  sWeet  to  him  that  once  more  he  wholly 
opened  his  heart.  He  avowed  that  he  had  been 


130  TWIN    ROSES. 

tempted  again,  that  he  had  again  fallen  into 
error. 

"  I  knew  it,  Herman,"  said  Jessie  mildly. 

"  Knew  it  ?  "  he  answered  with  a  fierce  intona- 
tion. "  Who  told  you  ?  "Was  it  that  venomous, 
back-biting  Hawkwood  ?  " 

"  No  one.  Your  manner,  your  actions  told  me. 
But  I  thought  it  wejl  not  to  speak.  I  hoped,  I 
felt  sure  that  this  would  not  last — that  you  would 
see  the — the — "  Jessie  hesitated. 

"  Speak  the  word  out  boldly,  I  deserve  it.  I 
am  a  brute — speak  it  out;  let  me  hear  it  from 
your  lips." 

"  It  is  enough  that  you  confide  in  me  now. 
That  is  all  I  ask.  You  know  how  I  trust  you, 
Herman — nothing  can  shake  that  trust." 

"  Oh  !  Jessie,  if  I  were  worthy  of  you !  "  cried 
Herman. 

What  said  Jessie's  eyes  as  she  laid  her  head 
fondly  on  his  shoulder? 

She  resumed  the  conversation  by  saying,  "  You 
told  me  just  now  that  you  had  some  plan  to  pro- 
pose. What  is  it  ?  Let  me  hear  it  now." 

"  You  will  be  startled,  Jessie;  but  the  thought 
has  been  running  in  my  head  for  a  long  time. 
The  temptation*  here,  I  confess  it,  are  so  great 
that  I  cannot  always  be  certain  of  resisting 


TWIN  ROSES.  131 

them.  Then  I  have  not  a  fair  chance  of  rising  in 
the  profession  and  of  earning  a  salary  by  which 
I  may  comfortably  support  you  and  the  little  one. 
I  must  go  elsewhere." 

"  I  will  go  any  where  with  you,"  replied  Jessie 
warmly.  Then  she  thought  of  Jeannie,  and 
there  was  a  choking  sensation  in  her  throat. 

"  We  hear  glowing  accounts  of  the  success  of 
English  actors  in  America — of  the  large  sums 
they  earn — of  the  position  they  hold — I  must  go 
to  America!" 

"  America  ! "  exclaimed  Jessie  aghast. 

"  There,  I  feared  I  should  startle  you !  It  is 
so  far  away — so  far  from  your  sister  and  the 
child.  We  could  not  well  take  Mildred  with 
us.  She  would  be  an  encumbrance  on  such  a 
journey.  We  should  be  obliged  to  leave  her 
with  Jeannie." 

For  a  few  moments  Jessie  was  incapable  of 
replying.  These  blows  fell  so  thick  and  fast! 
Part  with  her  beloved  sister — part  with  her  idol- 
ized child — bid  adieu  to  her  native  land — to  all 
her  old  associations !  Would  these  sacrifices, 
indeed,  be  required  of  her  ?  But  Herman's  wel- 
fare stood  foremost  in  the  mind-drawn  picture 
and  overshadowed  all  the  rest.  If  she  could  save 
him  from  evil  companions — restore  to  him  peace 


132  TWIN   ROSES. 

of  mind,  the  universe  weighed  as  nothing  in  the 
opposite  scale ! 

She  turned  to  him,  her  small  hand  clasped  his 
with  a  strong  pressure — her  lovely,  uplifted  face 
was  beaming  with  hope  and  devotion  as  she  re- 
plied, "  I  will  go  with  you,  Herman,  any  where — 
the  whole  world  over!  I  will  leave  Jeannie, 
leave  our  child,  leave  everything,  to  go  with 
you ! " 


TWIN   ROSES.  133 


CHAPTER   X. 

OCEAN    PERILS. 

How  keenly  Jeannie  suffered  when  the  new 
project  was  communicated  to  her,  not  even  her 
twin  sister  divined, — no  word  expressed  dissent, 
no  look  betrayed  her  anguish  at  the  proposed 
separation.  With  characteristic  self-forgetfulness, 
she  strengthened  her  sister's  resolution  to  accom- 
pany her  husband — though  it  rendered  Jeannie's 
own  life  more  desolate  than  ever. 

The  child  was  to  remain  with  her — there  waa 
some  comfort  in  that — a  solace  alas !  stolen  from 
Jessie's  scanty  store. 

Little  Mildred  throve  wonderfully.  Healthy, 
strong,  eager,  vivacious,  never  for  a  moment  quiet 
when  she  was  awake — she  evidently  inherited 
her  father's  mercurial,  excitable  temperament. 

Her  fits  of  turbulent  joyousness,  her  bursts  of 
tempestuous  love  were  succeeded  by  contrarious 
moods  when  she  perversely  refused  to  return  the 
caresses  even  of  her  parents.  Already  it  was 
apparent  that  she  was  self-willed,  and  violent,  and 
the  thwarting  of  her  baby  volitions  caused  the 
12 


134  TWIN   ROSES. 

outbreak  of  sudden  gusts  of  passion.  Yet  her 
very  waywardness  threw  around  her  an  inexpli- 
cable fascination,  as  though  some  attracting,  en- 
dearing element  had  been  infused  even  into  her 
imperfections. 

The  same  strange  contradiction,  that  gave  sin- 
gularity to  her  character,  manifested  itself  in  her 
personal  appearance. 

Her  hair  was  almost  golden,  yet  her  mother's 
dark  eyes,  finely  drawn,  black  eyebrows,  and 
sweeping  lashes  were  repeated  in  her  face; — a 
singular  combination  which  resulted  in  striking 
and  uncommon  loveliness. 

That  she  was  the  privileged  pet  and  plaything 
of  the  theatre  may  well  be  imagined.  Even  Mr. 
Hawkwood,  one  day,  involuntarily  chucked  the 
child  beneath  the  chin  until  it  laughed  aloud, 
revealing  those  bewitching  dimples  that  its 
mother  carried  on  either  cheek.  Perhaps  that 
infantine  merriment  stirred  the  gall  with  which 
his  heart  overflowed,  for  he  said  in  accents  of 
mock  pity,  "  That's  right,  little  monkey,  laugh 
now,  for  there  are  plenty  of  tears  in  store  for 
you,  by  and  bye !  " 

Poor  Jessie  strained  the  child  to  her  breast  and 
hurried  away,  as  though  she  would  fly  with  it  out 
of  the  reach  of  that  cruel  prophecy. 


TWIN   ROSES.  135 

Herman's  preparations  were  rapidly  made. 
The  sale  of  the  luxurious  household  furniture, 
with  which  he  had  surrounded  his  bride,  now 
produced  the  expenses  of  the  voyage.  A  very 
moderate  sum  would  remain  on  their  arrival  in 
America.  But,  in  that  land  of  abundance,  Her- 
man was  confident  of  reaping  a  golden  harvest 
with  the  sickle  of  his  talent. 

They  took  passage  in  a  steamer  that  left  Liver- 
pool on  the  first  of  March.  Jessie  suggested 
the  more  economical  transportation  qf  a  sailing 
vessel,  but  Herman  rebelled.  He  had  made  little 
progress  in  the  difficult  science  of  economy. 

The  parting  of  the  sisters  tested  the  heroism 
of  both. 

Jeannie,  though  shaken  to  the  centre  of  her 
being,  bade  adieu  with  pale  composure  and 
powerful  self-control  that  held  her  very  pulses  to 
then:  usual  temperate  beating. 

Jessie  wept  profusely — convulsively — as  she 
embraced  her  sister  and  her  child. 

Herman  was  in  that  state  of  joyous  elation 
which  change  of  scene — new  hopes — a  fresh  pro- 
ject, always  produced.  But  when  he  kissed 
Jeannie,  and  pressed  little  Mildred  to  his  heart, — 
when  she  clung  to  him,  affrighted  by  her  mother's 
emotion — a  few  misgivings  began  to  battie  with 


136  TWIN   ROSES. 

his  bright  visions.  He  placed  the  child  in  Jean- 
nie's  arms — bade  an  inarticulate  adieu  to  the 
friends  that  crowded  around  Jessie,  and  hurried 
her  away. 

They  reached  Liverpool  that  night,  and  the 
next  morning  embarked  for  Boston. 

The  sea  was  a  new,  a  strange  and  beautiful 
revelation  to  the  young  travellers.  The  bracing 
air  had  an  invigorating,  champagne-like  effect 
on  Herman,  the  unusual  motion  created  no 
distress. 

In  a  few  days  even  Jessie  was  pronounced  an 
excellent  sailor. 

As  she  paced  the  deck  with  Herman,  and  lis- 
tened to  his  plans  for  the  future,  or  sat  beside  him 
(his  arm  around  her  to  guard  against  the  sudden 
heavings  of  the  ship)  and  watched  the  phosphoric 
lights  dancing  like  a  shower  of  diamonds  on  the 
waters,  or  the  moon  rising  in  sublime  splendor 
from  its  ocean  bed  and  transmuting  the  waves 
into  a  silver  mirror,  Jessie  was  happy  beyond 
expression.  Yes,  happy  in  spite  of  her  heart- 
yearnings  for  those  whom  she  had  left  behind. 
Herman's  buoyancy  and  enthusiasm  seemed  ever 
ascending  to  a  higher  and  higher  climax.  What 
wonder  that  Jessie  found  them  contagious  ? 

The  'delicacy  and  refinement  of  Mrs.  Lander's 


TWIN    ROSES.  137 

appearance,  the  tender  devotion  of  her  husband, 
and  her  extreme  beauty,  combined  to  render  her 
an  object  of  interest  to  her  fellow  passengers. 
But  her  sensitive  nature  shrank  from  intercourse 
with  strangers.  Of  the  many  who  sought  to  ap- 
proach her,  one  only  succeeded  in  melting  the 
barrier  of  her  reserve. 

Miss  Pomeroy  was  born  and  educated  in  the 
Athens  of  the  new  land — Boston.  Her  enfran- 
chisement from  school  was  succeeded  by  a  sojourn 
of  two  years  in  Europe.  She  was  now  returning 
home. 

This  young  girl  was  an  admirable  type  of  the 
Massachusetts  maiden ;  highly  educated,  self-re- 
liant, unprejudiced,  consulting  the  dictates  of 
strong  good  sense  and  a  warm  heart,  rather  than 
the  world's  opinion.  She  was  unawed  by  the 
quen  dira  Von  of  society  when  she  was  intent 
upon  performing  a  kind  action, — we  might  almost 
add  when  she  was  bent  on  gratifying  a  whim. 

She  learned  that  the  young  actress  was  making 
her  way  to  a  land  where  she  was  a  total  stranger. 
She  might,  she  must  need  friendly  aid  and  coun- 
sel. She  offered  her  own  with  a  straightforward 
earnestness  that,  while  it  startled  the  timid  Jessie, 
did  not  fail  to  captivate  her.  She  received  Miss 
Pomeroyrs  proffered  services  "  not  with  vain 
12* 


138  TWIX    K" 

thanks,  but  with  acceptance  bounteous."  This 
was  Jessie's  only  acquaintance  on  ship-board. 

For  the  first  ten  days  the  weather  was  unusu- 
ally mild.  Boisterous  March  had  not  threatened 
to  exhibit  his  turbulent  disposition.  But  this 
delusive  calm  was  broken,  without  menace,  by  a 
sudden  whirlwind.  So  at  least  it  seemed  to 
Jessie,  who  was  sitting  contentedly  in  her  state- 
room. 

The  violent  tossing  of  the  vessel — the  sound  of 
rushing  feet — the  hoarse  voice  of  the  captain  giv- 
ing rapid  orders — the  swift  pulling  of  ropes,  the 
confusion  and  tumult  above,  caused  her  to  start 
up  and  call  upon  Herman.  There  was  no  answer 
to  the  repeated  cry.  He  was  not  within  hearing. 

It  was  still  early  morning.  Jessie  remembered 
that  he  had  gone  upon  deck  a  short  time  before 
she  rose. 

In  spite  of  the  heavy  pitching  of  the  vessel, 
Jessie  made  her  staggering  way  through  the 
ladies'  cabin  to  the  dining  saloon.  She  passed  a 
group  of  panic-stricken  supplicants  sending  up 
prayers,  wrung  from  terror,  not  from  love.  Can 
such  supplications  ever  reach  the  gates  of  Heaven  ? 
Suddenly  the  waves  rushed  down  the  companion- 
way.  Then  the  clamorous  shrieks  of  women  and 
children  rent  the  air. 


TWIN    ROSES.  139 

Jessie  clung  to  the  banister  with  a  firm  hold. 
Though  the  sea  passed  over  her,  she  did  not  re- 
lease her  grasp.  To  ascend  to  Herman  was  her 
one  thought.  The  water  could  not  drive  her 
back.  After  several  desperate  efforts,  she  suc- 
ceeded in  mounting. 

What  a  scene  burst  on  her  eyes  when  she 
reached  the  round-house,  and  held  herself  erect  by 
clinging  to  the  door  that  opened  on  the  deck! 
The  sky  was  black  with  flying  clouds.  The 
angry  flood,  frothing  in  its  fury,  seemed  to 
dash  against  the  heavens,  literally  "  pelting  the 
skies."  On  one  side  the  sea  rose  in  a  huge 
mountain — on  the  other  sank  into  a  deep  chasm 
that  threatened  to  engulf  the  groaning  ship. 
Then  the  yawning  abyss  was  filled — the  ship 
was  tossed  up  towards  the  clouds — the  moun- 
tain of  a  moment  before,  sank  into  a  valley. 
The  strained  vessel  quivered  and  shook,  as  with 
a  mighty  spasm.  A  sail  was  torn  from  its  fast- 
enings and  flapped  like  the  wing  of  some  gigantic 
bird,  sending  forth  an  ominous  sound  that  rose 
above  the  howling  of  the  gale.  The  waves  that 
constantly  rushed  over  the  deck  carried  overboard 
every  article  that  their  violence  could  loosen. 

Jessie    stood    awe-struck — spell-bound.      Her 
natural  fears  were  swallowed  up  in  amazement 


140  TWIN    ROSES. 

and  admiration  of  the  grandeur  of  this  combat 
between  the  sea  and  sky.  It  was  marvellous  how 
steadily  she  kept  her  position. 

All  at  once  she  caught  sight  of  Herman. 

He  had  made  a  vain  attempt  to  reach  the 
cabin,  and  was  now  clinging  to  a  rope  passed 
around  a  mast.  His  gaze  was  riveted  on  Jessie 
before  she  beheld  him.  But  to  advance  a  step 
without  being  washed  overboard  was  impossible. 
And  Jessie,  as  she  clung  to  the  door  of  the  round- 
house, could  neither  press  forward  nor  retreat. 
Though  so  near,  they  seemed  miles  and  miles 
apart. 

An  expression  of  horror  passes  over  Herman's 
countenance.  What  is  it  he  sees  ?  Jessie's  eyes 
follow  the  direction  of  his.  A  huge  object  is 
floating  towards  them,  bearing  directly  down 
upon  the  steamship.  A  glittering,  shining  hill, 
that,  in  awful,  menacing  grandeur,  glides  nearer 
and  nearer — it  is  an  iceberg  ! 

That  sight  has  stricken  terror  into  the  bravest 
hearts. 

Jessie  heard  the  cry  of  the  sailors  and  the 
captain's  thundered  order  to  the  helmsman.  The 
n»'\t  moment  there  was  a  violent  shock — a  crash  ! 
Hen  nan  had  loosened  his  hold — perhaps  in  his 
attempt  to  reach  her ;  —he  had  disappeared.  The 


TWIN    ROSES.  141 

mast,  the  very  mast  to  which  he  had  clung  was 
snapped  in  twain !  The  iceberg  was  sweeping 
triumphantly  onward — huge  fragments  of  the 
torn  vessel  following  in  its  track. 

Jessie's  agonized  gaze  in  vain  sought  Herman. 
He  had  surely  been  washed  into  the  sea  !  The 
instinct  of  self-preservation  was  lost  in  grief — she 
relaxed  her  hold — she  felt  herself  whirled  violently 
forward — she  was  conscious  that  the  waves  were 
beating  over  her, — a  sound  as  of  a  thousand 
chariot  wheels  was  in  her  ears — she  knew  no 
more. 

When  her  senses  returned,  the  blue  sky  greeted 
her  opening  eyes.  She  was  lying  on  the  deck. 
The  storm  had  partially  ceased.  She  heard  the 
working  of  the  pumps — the  firing  of  guns  that 
gave  signal  of  a  ship  in  distress  ;  she  remembered 
all — and  oh !  what  anguish  unutterable  seized 
her  with  one  vivid  recollection!  She  made  an 
effort  to  rise, — there  was  an  arm  around  her — a 
breath  on  her  cheek — a  voice  in  her  ears — it  was 
Herman's ! 

The  blood  streamed  from  a  deep  gash  in  his 
brow.  Its  flow  had  probably  recalled  him  to  his 
senses.  He  awoke  to  find  Jessie  stretched  upon 
the  deck  a  few  paces  from  him. 

The  vessel  was  tossed  less  frantically  from  side 


142  TWIN   ROSES. 

to  side,  and  Herman  was  enabled  to  rise  and  lift 
up  Jessie  in  his  arms.  But  the  danger  was  im- 
minent as  ever ;  though  the  pumps  were  kept 
in  motion  without  pause,  the  ship  was  rapidly 
filling  and  must  soon  sink. 

Jessie  could  look  calmly  upon  death — death  at 
Herman's  side — death  in  Herman's  arms.  The 
flight  of  her  spirit  to  the  land  which  was  not  afar 
off,  which  she  so  often  regarded  in  thought,  was 
not  appalling  even  in  the  midst  of  the  wide 
waters. 

But  Herman's  sanguine  temperament  clung  to 
hope — to  life.  He  had  been  used  to  think  of  the 
shores  beyond  the  grave  as  an  "unknown 
bourne ; "  his  soul  shrank  from  the  dark  plunge. 
He  was  a  brave  man,  and  Jessie  might  have  been 
accounted  a  coward,  but  she  could  contemplate, 
with  steady  eyes,  the  threatened  change  which  he 
could  not  look  upon. 

The  captain  orders  the  life-boats  to  be  manned  ; 
in  them  now  lies  the  only  hope. 

The  pale,  fear-sick  wretches  upon  the  deck  all 
press  madly  forward,  dashing  aside  every  obstacle 
and  trampling  upon  each  other; — brute  force 
rules  the  hour — the  strongest  would  leap  first  into 
the  boats.  But  the  gallant  captain,  sternly  calm 
in  this  great  jx  ril  tluit  places  a  hundred  lives  in 


TWIN   ROSES.  143 

his  hand,  guards  the  passage-way  himself,  ex- 
claiming, "  I  will  shoot  the  first  man  that  jumps 
into  a  boat  without  my  order !  " 

The  pistol  is  ready  in  his  grasp  to  execute  his 
threat.  He  has  foreseen  the  danger  and  met  it, 
prepared  to  conquer. 

"  The  women  and  children  first,  and  four  men 
with  them  to  take  charge  of  that  boat.  Martin 
Chalmers,  Tom  Anson,  Mackinstry,  Stodart — 
in  with  you  !  Now  the  women." 

His  orders  were  obeyed  with  silent  alacrity. 
The  four  men  took  their  seats — the  women  were 
rapidly  placed  in  the  boat. 

Jesssie  stood  on  the  deck,  clinging  to  Herman. 
One  of  the  sailors  approached  to  lift  her  into  the 
life-boat,  but  she  would  not  release  her  hold. 

"  With  him  !  with  my  husband !  Not  without 
him  !  "  she  exclaimed. 

In  vain  Herman  entreated  her  to  go — she 
wildly  implored  to  remain  with  him. 

"  For  God's  sake,  make  haste  ! "  cried  out  the 
sturdy  captain.  "  Not  a  man  shall  move  until 
this  woman  is  safe ! " 

"Jessie!  Jessie!  do  you  hear  that  order? 
Every  moment  is  precious ! "  pleaded  Herman. 
"  Until  you  are  in  the  boat,  not  another  life  will 
stand  a  chance  of  being  saved !  " 


144  TWIN   ROSES. 

"  Oh !  Herman — not  without  you !  I  cannot — 
will  not  go ! " 

"  I  will  follow,  love,  if  it  be  possible ;  but  see, 
the  ship  is  sinking,  there  are  two  more  boats 
empty,  and  until  you  enter  this,  not  one  life  more 
can  be  saved." 

"  Mrs.  Landor !  Mrs.  Landor ! "  supplicated 
Miss  Pomeroy  from  the  boat  where  she  had  just 
taken  her  seat.  "  I  implore  you  not  to  delay. 
You  peril  your  husband's  life  as  well  as  your 
own.  Pray  come !  here — here  by  my  side  is  a 
place  for  you.  Oh !  come." 

The  captain  gave  some  inaudible  order  to  the 
sailors  who  stood  beside  him.  They  seized  Jessie 
in  their  arms,  tore  her  from  Herman,  who  firmly, 
though  with  tenderness,  assisted  their  efforts,  and 
in  a  moment  more  the  boat  was  lowered  and 
consigned  to  the  waves. 

Well  might  Jessie's  shriek  of  terror  thrill 
through  Herman!  As  the  boat  was  borne  furtlirr 
and  further  away,  he  could  see  her  uplifted  arms 
extended  towards  him  and  catch  the  expression 
of  despair  on  her  white  face.  Miss  Pomeroy 
was  supporting  her — striving  to  comfort  her — 
holding  her  in  the  seat  from  which  she  made  a 
violent  effort  to  rise. 

The   warm    heart   of    the-    c-aptain    had    been 


TWIN   ROSES.  145 

touched  by  the  scene,  though  he  would  not 
swerve  from  his  duty.  Herman  was  the  first 
man  whom  he  ordered  to  descend  into  the  second 
boat.  Jessie  was  still  near  enough  to  see  him  leap 
in — near  enough  for  that — yet  oh !  how  distant ! 

The  three  boats  are  filled — the  ship  is  slowly 
subsiding  beneath  the  waves. 

The  boats  are  driven  about  for  some  time 
within  sight  of  each  other.  Herman  and  Jessie 
are  leaning  over  the  sides,  gazing  in  mute  agony. 
Towards  evening  the  boats  separate.  Slowly 
they  cease  to  be  visible.  Husband  and  wife  are 
parted — when  to  meet  again?  It  may  be  not 
until  they  are  reunited  on  that  eternal  shore  to 
which  the  raging  of  this  furious  sea  may  drift 
them. 

Soon  after  morning  broke,  a  dark  object  was 
indistinctly  apparent  to  those  in  the  boat  where 
Herman  was  seated.  It  elicited  a  cry  of  horror 
from  the  passengers — could  it  be  another  floating 
iceberg !  It  approached  nearer  and  nearer — oh ! 
the  joyful  relief  of  that  sight!  It  was  a  steam- 
ship! 

Half  an  hour  later  the  shivering  occupants  of 
the  boat  were  gathered  on  the  deck  of  the  Pacific 
bound  for   New   York.     Three  days   afterwards 
they  entered  their  destined  port. 
13 


146  TWIN  ROSES. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE    MISSING    BOAT. 

HERMAN'S  paroxysms  of  grief,  when,  miserable 
and  solitary,  he  arrived  in  a  strange  land,  baffle 
all  description. 

A  week — a  fortnight — slowly,  torturingly  ebbed 
away.  Still,  no  tidings  had  been  received  of  the 
two  other  boats  that  had  left  the  sinking  ship. 
The  conviction  gradually  forced  itself  upon  his 
mind  that  he  should  behold  Jessie  no  more  on 
earth — that  the  boat,  into  which  she  was  placed 
against  her  will,  had  been  swallowed  up  by  the 
angry  sea ! 

All  the  days  that  he  had  passed  in  her  sweet 
society  rose  in  panoramic  array  before  him.  Bit- 
ter and  hopeless  was  his  remorse.  He  had  not 
prized  her  to  her  full  worth.  The  husband  had 
broken  promises  made  by  the  lover ;  he  had 
fallen  short  in  a  hundred  duties;  he  had  been 
heedless,  neglectful,  cruel,  and  there  was  no 
future  in  which  he  could  make  reparation.  He 
must  drag  on  his  wretched  existence  with  the 


TWIN   ROSES.  147 

arrow  of  self-reproach  always  festering  in  his 
soul. 

And  Jeannie — how  overwhelming  would  her 
sorrow  be !  He  shrank  from  writing  to  her  the 
fatal  tidings.  His  blood  froze  at  the  thought 
that  this  blow  must  come  through  his  hand — his 
hand  which  had  already  inflicted  the  first  wound 
that  pierced  her  heart.  But  if  he  delayed  longer, 
would  she  not  learn  her  bereavement  through 
some  less  tender  medium  ?  That  must  not  be. 

He  forced  himself  to  write,  but  with  a  hopeful- 
ness which  he  could  not  feel.  He  summed  up  all 
the  probabilities  that  the  boats  might  yet  be 
heard  from.  It  was  but  a  fortnight.  What  a 
century  that  brief  space  seemed  to  him  as  he 
wrote  those  words ! 

The  letter  was  dispatched.  The  next  day  he 
searched  the  papers  as  usual  with  eager  avidity — 
his  first  duty  every  morning.  How  his  pulses 
leaped  and  throbbed !  The  chamber  was  flooded 
with  light,  and  then  swam  around  him!  He 
read  that  the  passengers  of  one  of  the  boats  that 
had  left  the  unfortunate  steamer — a  boat  filled 
with  women,  had  been  rescued  by  a  sailing  vessel 
which  had  just  reached  Boston  in  safety.  Then 
followed  the  names  of  the  saved.  His  eyes  were 
almost  blinded  as  he  strove  to  read  them.  With 


148  TWIN   ROSES. 

suspended  breath  he  glanced  through  the  list 
Again  and  again  he  read — many  names  he 
recognized,  but  Jessie's  was  not  there!  Not 
there! 

Had  she  been  swept  from  the  boat  ?  Had  she 
been  left  upon  it  by  some  strange  mischance  ? 
Had  she  died  through  exposure  and  grief?  "Who 
could  answer  these  questions  ?  One  thing  only 
was  certain,  her  name  was  not  on  the  list  of  the 
saved. 

To  whom  could  he  turn  ?  Miss  Pomeroy — she 
was  among  the  first  mentioned.  In  a  state  bor- 
dering upon  insanity  he  started  for  Boston  that 
night 

Soon  after  daybreak,  the  next  morning,  a  hag- 
gard, tottering  man,  who  seemed  to  have  become 
suddenly  aged,  whom  few  would  have  recognized 
as  the  vivacious  and  handsome  Herman  Landor, 
was  seen  ascending  the  steps  of  a  stately  house 
in  Mount  Vernon  street  His  trembling  hands 
have  pulled  the  bell  several  times  before  a  sleepy 
maid-servant  opens  the  door. 

"  Miss  Pomeroy — does  she  live  here  ?  " 

"  Deed  and  she  does." 

"  Is  she  at  home  ?  " 

"  Yes — in  course,"  replies  the  astonished  Irish 
lass,  with  a  rebuke  on  her  rosy  visage  at  the  sup- 


TWIN  ROSES.  149 

position  that  her  young  mistress  could  be  out  at 
such  an  unseemly  hour. 

"  I  wish  to  see  her." 

"  Deed  and  you  can't,  for  she's  not  out  of  her 
bed  yet." 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  the  utmost  importance. 
Will  you  not  carry  a  message  to  her  ?  " 

"  Sure,  and  you'd  better  call  again  just  about 
the  breakfast  hour.  I  shouldn't  like  to  be  after 
disturbing  her,  for  it's  a  sore  journey  she's  had, 
and  she  isn't  too  well.  She'll  breakfast  at  eight 
o'the  clock." 

Herman's  entreaties  were  useless,  the  girl  re- 
fused to  carry  note  or  message  until  Miss  Pome- 
roy  came  down  to  breakfast. 

He  left  the  house,  and  paced  up  and  down  the 
street  in  a  half-frenzied  state,  watching  the  win- 
dows of  the  houses  around  as  they  slowly  un- 
closed, and  from  within  came  tokens  of  reawaken- 
ing life. 

It  was  not  eight  o'clock  when  he  presented 
himself  at  the  door  again.  He  was  refused  ad- 
mittance as  before.  The  young  lady  had  not 
come  down  to  breakfast  yet.  He  was  expostu- 
lating with  the  servant  in  an  impassioned,  sup- 
plicating tone,  when  he  caught  sight  of  a  flutter 
of  white  drapery,  and  an  instant  after  the  form 
13* 


150  TWIN  ROSES. 

it  enveloped  descended  the  stair.  Impetuously 
thrusting  the  servant  aside,  he  rushed  into  the 
hall. 

"  Miss  Pomeroy ! "  was  all  he  could  gasp 
out. 

"  Mr.  Landor !     Thank  Heaven !  it  is  you." 

And  she  caught  his  hand  warmly  as  though  it 
had  been  that  of  an  old  friend.  There  was  no 
sorrow  on  her  countenance — no  sympathy  for  his 
grief — she  was  radiant  with  smiles. 

His  white  quivering  lips  could  not  frame  a 
question.  "  Jessie  !  Jessie ! "  at  length  broke 
from  them. 

"  Yes — yes — come  in,"  said  Miss  Pomeroy, 
leading  the  way  to  the  parlor. 

She  was  taking  him  there  to  prepare  him  for 
her  sad  history. 

Herman,  losing  all  self-control,  sank  into  a 
chair,  burying  his  head  in  his  hands,  and  burst 
into  tears.  For  a  time  he  struggled  in  vain  for 
utterance,  and  then  sobbed  out  in  accents  of 
deepest  anguish,  "  Oh !  my  God !  my  God  !  She 
is  dead,  then ! " 

"  Dead  ?  For  Heaven's  sake,  Mr.  Landor,  what 
do  you  mean  ?  Dead  ?  No,  no !  " 

Herman  sprang  up  as  though  from  an  elec- 
trical shock. 


TWIN   ROSES.  151 

"  My  wife  !  Is  she  alive  ?  Her  name  was  not 
on  the  list!" 

"  Yes,  she  is  alive — she  is  here  with  me,  and 
not  very  ill.  By  some  accident  her  name  was 
omitted  on  the  list.  I  had  a  correction  made  in 
to-day's  paper,  for  I  knew  that  it  would  meet 
your  eye.  We  had  heard  of  the  safety  of  your 
boat.  Jessie  has  expected  you  every  moment 
since  we  arrived." 

The  reaction  was  so  powerful  that  Herman's 
very  transport  rendered  him  mute,  and  seemed  to 
paralyze  his  faculties.  When  he  could  command 
his  voice,  he  begged  to  be  taken  to  Jessie  at 
once. 

Miss  Pomeroy  told  him  that  Jessie's  health  had 
received  a  severe  shock.  The  kind  young  hostess 
was  too  deeply  interested  in  the  invalid  to  allow 
her  to  run  any  risk.  Mr.  Landor  must  wait 
patiently  until  she  had  prepared  her  patient  for 
the  good  news. 

She  left  Herman ;  but  before  even  his  impa- 
tience could  complain  of  the  delay,  returned. 
Tears  of  joy  were  sparkling  upon  her  cheeks. 
"  Come ! "  was  the  only  word  she  spoke.  With 
rapid  steps  she  remounted  the  stair,  and  Herman 
followed.  She  opened  the  door  of  a  chamber, 
and  withdrew. 


152  TWIN  ROSES. 

That  meeting — who  could  describe  it  in  lan- 
guage that  would  not  seem  feeble  to  those  who 
have  met  after  such  a  parting?  To  those  who 
have  not,  how  could  it  ever  be  pictured  ? 


TWIN    KOSES.  153 


CHAPTER  XII. 

STRUGGLES    IN    THE    NEW    WORLD. 

FOR  a  few  days  Herman  became  the  guest  of 
Miss  Pomeroy's  father. 

The  joy  of  again  beholding  her  husband  acted 
as  a  powerful  restorative  upon  the  suffering 
Jessie.  She  was  soon  able  to  drive  out  in  the 
carriage  which  Miss  Pomeroy  pressed  her  to  use, 
and  even  to  accompany  Herman  in  search  of 
lodgings. 

Jessie  had  received  the  most  lavish  kind- 
ness from  the  warm-hearted  New  England  girl, 
who  did  not  fear  to  offer  hospitality  to  her 
fellow  voyager,  the  sharer  of  her  great  peril, 
though  she  chanced  to  be  an  actress — a  stranger, 
of  whose  history  she  knew  little  or  nothing. 
Jessie  and  Herman  carried  credentials,  Heaven- 
inscribed,  on  theh*  faces.  There  were  no  floating 
atoms  of  prejudice  in  Miss  Pomeroy's  atmos- 
phere that  dimmed  her  eyes  from  reading  these 
aright. 


154  TWIN    ROSES. 

Mr.  Pomeroy  was  a  widower — a  man  of 
scholarly  attainments  and  liberal  views.  He  had 
ventured  to  give  his  daughter  an  almost  mascu- 
line education,  but  had  not  committed  the  com- 
mon error  of  drawing  drafts  upon  her  head  which 
would  impoverish  her  heart. 

Our  English  travellers  took  it  for  granted  that 
it  was  as  easy  to  procure  furnished  lodgings  in 
Boston  as  in  London.  Very  severe  was  their  dis- 
appointment when  Miss  Pomeroy  explained  to 
them  that  boarding-houses  in  the  former  took 
the  place  of  suites  of  apartments  in  the  great 
metropolis.  The  seclusion  which  Jessie  loved, 
which  her  mimosa-like  nature  demanded,  was 
impracticable. 

Miss  Pomeroy  accompanied  them  to  an  estab- 
lishment located  very  near  the  beautiful  Boston 
Common.  Herman  was  quite  startled  at  the  rate 
of  charges.  But  he  consoled  himself  with  the  re- 
flection that  these  seemingly  exorbitant  demands 
were  surely  signs  of  the  prosperity  of  the  country. 
Large  sums  were  so  easily  acquired  that  ordinary 
comforts  commanded  high  prices  ! 

Jeannie's  almost  prophetic  thoughtfulness  had 
prevented  Herman  from  finding  himself  wholly 
without  means,  in  spite  of  his  shipwreck.  She 
had  begged  him  to  convert  into  gold  the  little 


TWIN    ROSES.  155 

store  of  wealth  that  remained  after  the  sale  of 
his  furniture,  and  to  allow  her  to  sew  it  into  a 
belt  which  he  could  always  wear.  His  entire 
wardrobe,  and  that  of  Jessie,  had  been  lost  in 
the  wreck,  but  Jeannie's  girdle  was  about  his 
waist. 

Jessie  selected  a  very  small  and  unpretending 
room,  somewhat  loftily  situated,  and  persuaded 
Herman,  who  inclined  to  the  extravagance  of  a 
more  comfortable  arrangement,  that  this  was  just 
what  she  desired. 

Mrs.  Lawson,  who  kept  the  establishment, 
might  have  been  inclined  to  sneer  at  her  choice, 
and  treat  the  new  comers  with  that  disdain 
which  poverty  too  often  excites,  but  she  was  re- 
strained by  Miss  Pomeroy's  presence  and  patron- 
age. 

The  next  morning,  after  bidding  a  grateful 
adieu  to  their  hospitable  host  and  hostess,  they 
took  possession  of  their  humble  apartment. 

To  Herman  the  world  now  looked  brighter 
than  ever — especially  this  new  world,  towards 
which  his  soul  expanded,  for  he  was  a  republican 
at  heart.  The  spirit  of  energy  and  rapid  progress, 
and  busy  activity  that  characterized  the  land,  har- 
monized with  his  untranquil,  vehement  nature. 
He  felt  that  there  was  indeed 


156  TWIN    ROSES. 

"  No  clime  so  bright  and  beautiful, 

As  that  where  sets  the  sun  ; 

No  land  so  fertile,  fair,  and  free, 

As  that  of  Washington."  * 

The  State  of  Massachusetts  was  endowed  with 
especial  interest.  This  earth  was  consecrated  by 
the  first  blood  ^shed  in  the  great  revolutionary 
struggle  for  freedom.  But  our  young  and  hope- 
ful Englishman  was  inspired  with  the  belief  that 
no  more  of  this  fraternal  blood  would  ever 
crimson  and  defile  the  ground.  Henceforth  the 
"  only  contest  with  the  fatherland  would  be  a 
generous  emulation  in  the  arts  of  peace."  f 

He  was  impatient  to  visit  the  localities  hal- 
lowed by  great  historic  events.  Jessie  was  too 
feeble  to  accompany  him  on  the  excursions  which 
he  projected  with  so  much  ardor.  A  few  steps 
would  take  them  to  the  Common — that  reminded 
her  of  their  own  parks  at  home,  and  she  longed 
to  wander  with  Herman  beneath  the  noble  old 
trees.  They  went,  but,  overcome  by  fatigue,  she 
was  quickly  forced  to  return. 

"  I  will  sleep  awhile,"  she  said,  as  she  sank 
wearily  on  her  couch,  "  go  you  and  see  the  city, 
and  let  me  see  it  through  your  description  ;  that 
\\ill  please  me  as  well,  and  not  tire  me  at  all." 

*  G.  P.  Morris.  t  Kdward  Kverett. 


TWIN    ROSES.  157 

Herman,  at  first,  refused  to  leave  her,  but  Jessie, 
with  womanly  tact,  divining  that  his  thoughts 
would  be  roaming  abroad,  though  he  sat  in  bodily 
presence  by  her  side,  urged  him  to  go,  until  he 
consented. 

As  he  passed  through  the  streets,  every  thing 
looked  so  bright  and  bustling,  so  orderly  and 
prosperous,  so  free  from  all  signs  of  poverty  or 
distress,  that  Herman's  pulses  leaped  higher  and 
higher.  The  spirit  of  success  floated  on  the  very 
atmosphere — was  inhaled  with  the  exhilarating 
air  he  breathed. 

On  his  return  Jessie  was  amply  compensated 
for  her  solitary  hours  by  his  outburst  of  en- 
thusiasm. 

Her  thoughts  were  constantly  wandering  back 
to  her  child,  and  her  twin  sister,  yet  she  forced 
herself  to  participate  in  his  elation,  that  no 
mournful  shadow  might  be  reflected  on  him. 

For  some  days  he  was  eagerly  engaged  in  ex- 
ploring Boston  and  its  picturesque  environs. 

American  history,  so  little  investigated  by  Eng- 
lishmen in  general,  Herman  had  found  one  of  his 
most  fascinating  studies.  He  now  seemed  to 
imagine  that  to  visit  the  places  rendered  famous 
by  heroic  deeds  was  the  object  of  then:  voyage. 
With  glowing  eloquence  he  pictured  to  Jessie  his 

14 


158  TWIN    ROSES. 

emotions  as  the  majestic  granite  shaft  of  Bunker 
Hill  rose  before  his  sight, — described  to  her  the 
incidents  of  the  tremendous  conflict  it  commemo- 
rated— a  defeat  more  glorious  than  a  victory ! 
He  portrayed  that  valiant  band  of  Americans 
from  the  perilous  heights  of  Breed's  Hill  firing  on 
their  English  oppressors,  while  Charlestown  was 
in  flames — the  retreat  of  the  patriots  to  Bunker 
Hill — their  dauntless  valor — the  fall  of  that  first 
great  martyr  of  the  noble  cause — the  youthful 
Warren.  He  repeated  Gerry's  prophetic  warn- 
ing, that  as  surely  as  Warren  went  to  the  hill  he 
would  be  slain,  and  the  young  hero's  inspired 
reply 

"  Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori ;  " 

and  he  told  her  how  Warren  rushed  where  the 
conflict  was  hottest,  while  glory  sent  the  echo 
of  his  words  in  trumpet-notes  to  heaven,  and 
crowned  him  as  he  fell. 

And  Herman,  while  he  dwelt  upon  the  glorious 
struggle  of  those  champions  who  guarded  the 
cradle  of  infant  liberty,  gave  utterance  to  senti- 
ments, at  a  later  day  more  beautifully  expressed 
by  Everett,  when  his  soul-stirring  eloquence 
thrilled  the  crowd  assembled  to  do  honor  to  the 
New  England  patriot  whose  statue  was  reared 


TWIN   ROSES.  159 

near  Bunker  Hill.*  "  The  principles  of  free  gov- 
ernment for  which  they  laid  down  their  lives ;  the 
national  independence  which  by  united  counsels 
and  painful  sacrifices  they  achieved  on  hard- 
fought  fields ;  this  great  family  of  States  which, 
with  prophetic  foresight,  they  bound  together  in 
a  fraternal  confederacy;  this  admirable  adjust- 
ment of  local  and  federal  government; — the  most 
exquisite  contrivance  of  political  wisdom  which 
the  world  has  seen — these  shall  be  their  enduring 
monument.  No  less  eloquent  in  their  praise  shall 
be  the  material  prosperity  which  resulted  from 
their  wise  and  patriotic  measures." 

Herman  broke  off  from  these  reflections  and 
laughed  as  he  told  her  that,  when  man  had  failed 
to  rear  that  stately  shaft,  it  had  been  piled  up  by 
the  delicate  hands  of  women,  adding  that  he  had 
brought  her  to  a  land  where  they  were  the 
acknowledged  sovereigns.  What  the  strength 
of  their  brothers  failed  to  accomplish,  the  mys- 
terious potency  of  woman's  weakness  wrought 
by  magic. 

He  was  hardly  less  enthusiastic  when  he  trans- 
ported her  by  his  narrative  to  that  Elm-tree  at 
Cambridge,  beneath  which  Washington  first 

*  Inauguration  of  Statue  of  Warren,  June  17,  1857. 


160  TWIN   ROSES. 

wheeled  his  horse  and  drew  his  sword  as  com- 
mander in  chief  of  the  armies. 

Then  he  drew  a  vivid  picture  of  the  band  of 
patriots  who  assembled  beneath  the  spreading 
branches  of  the  Charter-oak. 

He  discoursed  to  her  of  the  peerless  Washing- 
ton, and  beguiled  the  hours  with  stirring  themes, 
as  though  he  had  no  cares  for  the  morrow  to  lure 
his  thoughts  from  the  contemplation  of  those 
momentous  achievements  which  raised  up,  out  of 
weakness  and  oppression,  wrong  and  misery,  the 
earth's  most  powerful  nation. 

But  Jessie's  heart,  like  Martha's  of  old,  was 
"  troubled  about  many  things,"  and  she  at  length 
startled  her  husband  from  his  heroic  musings  by 
a  suggestion  that  their  humble  store  of  worldly 
wealth  would  not  long  support  a  pair  of  dream- 
ers— of  idlers. 

Their  fellow  lodgers  hardly  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  new  comers  save  at  meals.  During  those 
brief  repasts  how  often  Jessie,  surrounded  by 
curious  eyes,  longed  for  the  privacy  of  her  own 
chamber !  But  she  agreed  with  Herman  that  it 
was  best  to  try  and  conform  to  the  customs  of 
the  land  in  which  they  sojourned. 

Herman  never  found  it  difficult  to  exchange 
one  occupation  for  another.  Constant  mental 


TWIN  ROSES.  161 

employment  supplied  life-giving  nourishment  to 
body  and  spirit.  He  would  cordially  have  agreed 
with  Hillard,  that,  "  to  have  something  to  do,  and 
to  do  it,  is  the  best  appointment  for  us  all." 

Jessie's  gentle  admonition  brought  the  sight- 
seeing excursions  to  a  sudden  close.  The  next 
day,  and  the  next,  and  the  next,  he  devoted  to 
interviews  with  managers.  The  season  was  so 
far  advanced  that  situations  in  every  stock  com- 
pany were  filled. 

The  exuberant  flow  of  Herman's  spirits  now 
began  to  ebb. 

He  had  gone  to  make  one  more  trial.  Jessie 
was  musing  upon  the  beloved  ones  far  away, 
when  Miss  Pomeroy's  card  was  placed  in  her 
hand,  accompanied  by  a  request  that  she  might 
be  received  in  Jessie's  apartment.  The  petition 
was  joyfully  granted. 

In  a  few  minutes  Miss  Pomeroy  had  drawn 
from  Jessie  the  history  of  Herman's  disappoint- 
ment. Before  the  advice  on  her  lips  could  find 
utterance,  Herman  himself  entered. 

Jessie's  wistful  eyes  had  read  his  face  as  he 
greeted  her  visitor. 

"I  fear  you  have  been  unsuccessful  again, 
Herman !  "  she  said  in  a  sympathizing  tone. 

"  Yes." 

14* 


162  TWIN  ROSES. 

"  Have  you  applied  at  the  Museum  ?  "  asked 
Miss  Pomeroy. 

No — Herman  had  not  done  that.  He  was 
rather  shocked  at  the  suggestion.  He  had  never 
contemplated  the  possibility  of  acting  at  a 
museum !  That  would  be  a  degradation  for 
which  he  was  hardly  prepared.  Better  travel  with 
a  strolling  company  at  once  and  exhibit  in  barns ! 

Miss  Pomeroy  readily  explained  to  him  that 
"  Museum "  was  only  another  name  given  to 
a  theatre,  by  means  of  which  a  certain  narrow 
prejudice  was  "whipped  round  the  post  "  of  con- 
science. That  the  same  plays  were  represented 
in  one  as  in  the  other — the  same  actors  were  the 
personators.  The  audiences  of  the  Museum  were 
high-toned  and  appreciative.  They  were  chiefly 
composed  of  the  religious  portion  of  the  com- 
munity who  eschew  theatres.  Even  quakers 
flock  to  the  museums.  Herman  must  not  quarrel 
with  names. 

Her  listeners  were  only  too  willing  to  be  con- 
vinced. Before  her  visit  concluded,  Herman  was 
on  his  way  to  the  Museum.  When  Miss  Pom- 
eroy took  her  leave,  she  bore  with  her  the  delight- 
ful consciousness  that  two  heavy  hearts  had  been 
lightened  by  her  presence. 

Herman  was  not  thoroughly  successful  in  his 


TWIN   ROSES.  163 

first  interview  with  Mr.  Saunders,  the  manager 
of  the  Museum — but  he  received  some  ground 
for  hope  to  find  a  precarious  footing  upon.  After 
several  visits,  and  protracted  discussions,  a  con- 
tract was  finally  drawn  up,  and  Herman  and 
Jessie  were  engaged  to  share  the  business  of 
leading  lady  and  gentleman — a  much  higher 
position  than  they  had  occupied  in  the  London 
theatre  they  had  just  left. 

On  the  same  day  a  commodious,  closely 
packed  trunk  was  sent  to  Jessie's  chamber.  It 
contained  a  variety  of  valuable  contributions  to 
her  wardrobe.  It  was  accompanied  by  no  mes- 
sage, no  name,  but  she  knew  that  there  was  only 
one  friend  to  whom  she  could  be  thus  indebted. 

A  comfortable  chair  had  also  mysteriously 
made  its  appearance  in  her  room — a  large,  cush- 
ioned, •roe/MWg'-chair,  which  her  English  notions  at 
first  thought  very  odd — but  which  she  soon  pro- 
nounced comfortable  and  soothing  in  the  extreme. 
It  amused  her  to  see  how  soon  the  restless  Her- 
man fell  into  the  American  fashion  of  rocking 
unconsciously,  while  he  was  thinking,  talking — 
even  reading.  Rocking-chairs  were  certainly 
invented  to  meet  the  demands  of  something  in 
the  unquiet  American  temperament  with  which 
Herman  sympathized. 


164  TWIN  ROSES. 

One  day,  when  Jessie  returned  from  a  short 
walk,  she  found  some  pots  of  geranium  in  full 
bloom  standing  in  her  window.  How  she 
wept  at  the  sight!  They  reminded  her  so  for- 
cibly of  Jeannie's  hanging  garden — of  that 
pleasant  chamber  where  poor  Jeannie  now  sat 
alone. 

Another  day,  upon  her  table,  lay  several  vol- 
umes that  could  not  fail  to  interest  her — publica- 
tions of  standard  American  literature,  but  quite 
new  to  her. 

At  another  time,  the  most  deliciously  tempting 
basket  of  fruit  awaited  her.  But  there  was  never 
note  or  card  attached  to  these  tokens,  nor  did 
any  message  accompany  them.  They  always 
found  their  way  to  her  room  in  some  mysterious 
manner  when  she  was  absent. 

When  she  attempted  to  thank  Miss  Pomeroy, 
the  latter  laughingly  disclaimed  all  knowledge 
of  her  meaning.  Jessie's  gratitude  could  find  no 
expression  in  words,  but  it  spoke  in  her  looks, 
her  eyes  that  filled  with  tears,  her  hand  that 
grasped  that  of  her  new  friend  with  speaking 
tenderness. 

For  the  next  two  months,  Herman  and  Jessie 
toiled  nightly  for  the  public  amusement.  They 
were  required  to  memorize  new  parts  almost 


TWIN  ROSES.  165 

daily;  to  enact  two  characters  every  night;  to 
study  incessantly,  but  before  the  close  of  the 
season  they  were  established  favorites. 

Herman  still  cherished  his  day-dreams — still 
intertwined  those  two  words  as  inseparable, 
"America  and  Prosperity." 


166  TWIN  ROSES. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

VIRGINIA. 

A  MusEUM-season  often  continues  throughout 
the  summer.  The  members  have  no  holidays  as 
in  other  theatrical  companies.  When  the  period 
of  Herman  and  Jessie's  engagement  expired, 
their  contract  was  instantly  renewed.  The  man- 
ager had  found  them  valuable  acquisitions  to  his 
corps. 

Through  the  intense  heat  of  a  witheringly 
sultry  summer — such  a  summer  as  the  young 
strangers  had  never  dreamed  of  in  then:  native 
land,  their  labors,  mental  and  physical,  continued 
unabated. 

Jessie  was  frequently  visited  by  Miss  Pome- 
roy,  enlivened  by  her  cheerful  conversation,  and 
soothed  by  her  manifold  delicate  attentions. 

"  How  good  you  are !  I  feel  as  though  I 
ought  to  thank  you  so  much ! "  one  day  ex- 
claimed the  young  actress  to  her  friend. 

"  Really  ?      Then    you    feel    as    though    you 


TWIN  ROSES.  167 

ought  to  make  me  very  uncomfortable,  and  I 
hardly  expected  that  from  you.  Listen,  and  be- 
lieve me,  when  I  tell  you  that  it  gives  me  more 
delight  to  be  able  to  offer  you  these  trivial  ser- 
vices than  some  really  great  benefit  you  might 
receive  could  possibly  impart  to  you.  Thus,  you 
see,  you  are  not  my  debtor.  I  am  in  debt  to 
Heaven  for  the  opportunity  which  it  affords  me 
of  scattering  a  few  humble  flowers  in  your  stony 
pathway.  Do  you  not  know  that  it  is  far  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive  ?  " 

After  that  Jessie  was  silent ;  not  less  grateful, 
but  she  felt  that  Miss  Pomeroy  spoke  truth,  that 
the  greater  felicity  was  the  giver's. 

But  Jessie  had  little  leisure  to  devote  to  the 
sweet,  heart-refreshing  communings  of  friendship. 
Her  mornings  were  passed  at  rehearsal;  her 
evenings  on  the  stage,  and  the  brief  intervening 
period  in  study  and  the  preparation  of  her  ward- 
robe. 

Herman  was  as  constantly  occupied,  but  to 
him  the  incessant  employment  was  invigorating, 
and  satisfied  the  cravings  of  his  aspiring,  ener- 
getic nature. 

He  was  developing  unquestionable  talents ;  he 
was  learning  to  use  his  powers  artistically;  he 
revelled  in  the  sense  of  inspiration  produced  by 


168  TWIN   ROSES. 

an  entire  abandonment  to  the  witchery  of  per- 
sonation. 

Sometimes  he  was  saddened  by  the  thought 
that  his  once  bright-hued  English  rose  was  droop- 
ing, fading ;  that  it  struck  no  root  in  this  foreign 
soil.  But  no,  that  could  not  be;  it  was  but 
the  oppressive  atmosphere  that  had  sapped  its 
strength  and  paled  its  vivid  colors ;  the  bracing 
autumn  winds  would  revive  and  retint  the  trans- 
planted flower.  He  reassured  himself  with  these 
reflections,  and  Jessie  smiled  assent  until  they 
became  convictions. 

Autumn  came  with  its  sharp,  easterly  blasts ; 
winter  with  its  piercing  cold ;  its  hills  of  snow ; 
its  frosted  trees  glittering  with  pendant  icicles. 
The  wellspring  of  life  seemed  chilled  and  frozen 
in  Jessie's  feeble  frame.  She  struggled  on,  with 
fitful  strength,  until  December.  Christmas  morn- 
ing that  broke  so  brightly,  in  spite  of  its  severe 
greeting,  upon  thousands  of  merry  hearts,  found 
Jessie  unable  to  leave  her  couch.  Her  illness 
took  the  form  of  debility,  amounting  to  complete 
prostration,  and  attended  by  a  slight  cough. 

For  several  weeks,  her  entreaties,  conveyed  to 
the  manager  through  Herman,  prevented  the 
permanent  engagement  of  any  substitute  who 
could  take  her  place  in  the  company.  But  it 


TWIN   HOSES.  169 

was  soon  apparent  that  her  efforts  to  rally  were 
fruitless.  Her  situation  was  transferred  to  an- 
other. 

Every  moment  of  Herman's  time,  not  engrossed 
within  the  walls  of  the  Museum,  was  passed  by 
Jessie's  couch.  He  even  studied  his  parts,  seated 
by  her  side.  Her  fond  eyes  rested  on  his  face ; 
she  heard  the  low  murmuring  of  his  voice ;  she 
would  not  distract  his  attention  by  a  word,  but 
his  presence  soothed  and  comforted  her. 

Never  before  had  Jessie's  likeness  to  her  sister 
been  so  striking.  Sometimes  Herman  almost 
fancied  that  fragile,  recumbent  form,  that  worn 
face,  those  soft,  mournful  eyes,  were  Jeannie's. 
For  Jessie's  eyes  had  ever  been  filled  with  lustre ; 
her  countenance  dimpled  with  animation ;  her 
cheeks  had  stolen  their  bloom  from  the  peach ; 
her  form  was  a  model  of  rounded  symmetry. 

Thus  the  winter  snows  melted  away  and  spring 
put  on  her  robe  of  vivid  green,  and  summer  her 
mantle,  embroidered  with  flowers  and  gemmed 
with  fruits,  but  Herman's  Rose  of  beauty  revived 
not  with  the  spring — bloomed  not  again  with  the 
kindred  summer  flowers. 

It  was  strange  to  see  how  gentle  and  patient 
he  had  become  through  this  long  season  of  watch- 
ing and  anxiety.  The  attrition  of  sorrow  had 
15 


170  TWIN   ROSES. 

rounded  and  smoothed  down  the  sharpnesses  of 
his  impulsive  character.  In  tending  the  dear 
invalid,  all  the  softness  of  his  nature  had  been 
called  forth.  He  saw  her  bright  spirit  hovering 
on  the  borders  of  the  eternal  land,  and  he 
thought,  as  he  had  never  done  before,  of  his 
fitness  (or  rather  unfitness)  to  follow  her  there — 
to  walk  with  her  hand  in  hand  through  the  glori- 
ous realms  of  the  hereafter. 

Every  week  Jessie  received  a  letter  of  love  from 
her  far-off  sister.  Jeannie  wrote  so  graphically 
that  when  her  letters  were  received  she  became 
present — she  was  holding  her  beloved  sister's 
hand,  and  her  dulcet  tones  were  sounding  in 
Jessie's  ears.  Jessie  always  kept  the  last  letter 
beside  her,  or  beneath  her  pillow,  until  it  was 
replaced  by  another.  Many  times,  «ach  day, 
when  Herman  was  absent,  it  was  unfolded  and 
reperused  ; — sometimes  she  kissed  the  senseless 
paper  messenger  and  talked  to  it  as  if  it  were  a 
living  thing.  Jessie,  in  spite  of  her  exhausted 
state,  answered  these  loved  epistles  with  never- 
failing  regularity.  But  she  forbore  to  tell  her 
sister  how  she  yearned  and  pined  for  her  compan- 
ionship— for  her  child's  presence — for  the  hum- 
blest home  or  shelter  in  "that  sweet  Isle  of  Isles 
the  Queen," — how  impossible  it  seemed  for  her 


TWIN   HOSES.  171 

hopes  and  affections  to  shoot  their  fibres  into,  or 
draw  their  nourishment  from,  this  foreign  earth. 

Miss  Pomeroy  had  brought  to  Jessie's  bedside 
her  own  family  physician.  He  pronounced  the 
case  to  be  one  over  which  medical  skill  has  little 
power. 

"  This  climate  is  too  rough  and  positive  for 
such  an  ethereal  being — you  must  take  her  to  the 
South  " — he  said  to  Herman. 

The  tide  of  prosperity  had  flowed  with  a  full 
sea  towards  Herman.  His  prospects  in  Boston 
nightly  grew  more  brilliant.  When  the  manager 
received  an  intimation  that  Herman  Landor 
must  relinquish  his  engagement,  he  made  an  offer 
to  double  or  treble  his  salary.  He  had  already 
separated  his  name  from  that  of  the  stock  com- 
pany and  announced  him  as  a  star. 

Herman  turned  his  eyes  from  the  letter  that 
contained  this  proposal,  to  the  pallid  face  of  his 
young  wife,  and  did  not  for  an  instant  waver  in 
his  decision. 

He  applied  at  once  to  southern  managers. 

As  though  to  test  his  power  of  resisting  tempta- 
tion, he  now  received  an  offer  from  the  theatre  of 
highest  standing  in  Boston.  He  was  ambitious, 
as  we  have  seen.  He  gloried  in  the  profession  in 
which  he  now  found  himself  qualified  to  shine, 


172  TWIN  ROSES. 

but  his  love  for  Jessie  stifled  the  noisy  promptings 
of  ambition  and  professional  pride.  He  returned 
a  grateful,  but  unqualified,  refusal.  The  same 
day  he  accepted  a  very  moderate  proposal  for  his 
services  as  leading  man  in  the  only  theatre  at 
Richmond,  Virginia.  Easily  reconciled  to  change, 
he  contemplated  his  visit  to  the  Queen  State  with 
pleasure. 

"  Massachusetts  and  Virginia !  the  two  States 
in  the  days  of  Washington  most  prominent  and 
most  closely  leagued  in  the  bonds  of  fellowship — 
I  shall  have  seen  them  both ! "  he  exclaimed  en- 
thusiastically. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  October  that  the  young 
actor  and  his  invalid  wife  turned  their  faces 
southward.  They  journeyed  very  slowly,  for  the 
slightest  exertion  seemed  to  exhaust  Jessie's 
almost  expended  strength. 

Herman  constructed  a  rude  couch,  composed  of 
slats  of  wood,  resembling  those  of  a  bed,  and  fas- 
tened together  by  small  strips  of  leather.  These 
wooden  slats,  folded  into  a  small  compass,  could 
be  readily  carried  about.  In  the  railway  car- 
riages they  were  spread  out,  supported  by  oppo- 
site seats,  and  covered  with  shawls,  travelling 
blankets,  &c.  With  a  pillow  for  the  head,  a 
tolerably  comfortable  couch  was  thus  ingeniously 


TWIN  ROSES.  173 

provided.  Jessie  seldom  sat  up  during  the  jour- 
ney. 

Miss  Pomeroy,  with  her  characteristic  thought- 
fulness,  had  written  to  some  friends  in  Rlch'mond, 
to  secure  the  travellers  pleasant  apartments  in  a 
quiet  hotel. 

Though  the  journey  could  be  accomplished  in 
a  couple  of  days,  it  had  consumed  a  week  when 
Herman  bore  his  half-lifeless  wife  to  her  chamber 
in  their  winter  home. 

Miss  Pomeroy's  southern  friends  were  prompt 
in  calling  upon  the  suffering  stranger.  But 
Jessie  could  not  overcome  her  truly  English 
reserve,  and  her  natural  timidity  was  greatly 
increased  when  she  accidentally  learned  that,  in 
Virginia,  a  canon  of  the  church  prohibits  its 
members  from  attending  dramatic  representa- 
tions.* Thus  the  acted  drama  seemed  placed 
without  the  pale  of  good.  She  knew  nothing  of 
the  arguments  which  might  be  used  in  extenua- 
tion of  so  narrow  an  edict.  Much  that  to  her 
seemed  the  growth  of  bigotry  did  not  deserve  a 
name  so  solemnly  harsh.  Traditional  prejudice — 
the  excitement  produced  by  the  burning  of  a 
theatre,  in  which  many  valuable  lives  were  lost — 

#  Canon  XIX.  of  the  revised  Constitution  and  Canons  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  Virginia. 
15* 


174  TWIN    ROSES. 

perhaps  some  abuses  of  the  theatre  itself,  and  a 
want  of  desire,  or  power,  to  suppress  them,  on  the 
part  of  the  public — these  causes  might  have  fur- 
nished a  fitter  appellation  for  the  source  whence 
this  edict  emanated. 

To  an  English  actress  the  bare  fact  of  such  a 
restriction  augured  contracted  minds  and  unex- 
panded  hearts.  If  the  drama  was  denounced,  so 
must  its  exponents  be !  She  shrank  from  all 
association  with  those  who  regarded  with  scorn 
that  profession  which,  to  her,  a  mother  had  dig- 
nified and  sanctified. 

Truly  spoke  the  lips  of  a  wise  and  God-loving 
minister  of  the  Gospel*  at  a  later  day,  "  He  is  no 
benefactor  of  the  human  race  who  invents  new 
and  imaginary  sins.  We  have  plenty  of  old  and 
real  ones."  *  *  *  "  Let  us  not  fancy  that  we 
are  serving  the  cause  of  godliness,  when  we  are 
discouraging  recreations.  Let  us  be  hearty  in 
our  pleasures  as  in  our  work,  and  not  think  that 
the  gracious  Being  who  has  made  us  so  open- 
hearted  to  delight,  looks  with  dissatisfaction  at 
our  enjoyment,  as  a  hard  task-master  might,  who 
in  the  glee  of  his  slaves  could  see  only  a  hin- 
derance  to  their  profitable  working." 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows. 


TWIN    ROSES.  175 

Even  had  Jessie's  strength  permitted,  she 
would  have  had  no  desire  to  leave  her  chamber. 

In  vain  Herman  described  to  her  the  landscape 
beauties  of  this  city,  reared  on  hills,  whose  every 
street,  at  sudden  bends,  reveals  some  picturesque 
prospect ;  or  told  her  of  the  garden-begirt  houses, 
the  magnificent  magnolia-trees  (especial  objects 
of  admiration  to  all  northern  strangers)  that  stood, 
green-liveried  sentinels,  at  so  many  doors.  Jessie 
clung  to  retirement.  She  knew  nothing  of  the 
hospitable  hearts  that  dwelt  in  those  tasteful 
mansions.  This  city  must  ever  seem  to  her  a 
place  in  which  her  body  sojourned  in  isolation, 
but  where  her  heart  was  not.  She  was  more  a 
recluse  in  this  crowded  town,  than  the  crippled 
Jeannie  in  her  solitary  little  chamber  at  the  top 
of  the  theatre. 

Jessie  wronged  not  a  few  kind  and  liberal  spirits 
by  her  conclusions,  drawn  from  appearances. 
There  was  at  least  a  trio  of  ladies  of  unquestion- 
able social  position,  of  high  cultivation,  of  blame- 
less lives,  whose  generous  natures  led  them  to 
stretch  out  a  ready  hand  to  cheer  the  faltering 
step,  to  wreathe  the  aching  brow,  to  watch  over 
the  uncertain  fate  of  the  struggling  artist;  a  trio 
whose  names  were  embalmed  in  the  heart  of  many 
a  poor  actor  and  actress  as  the  most  precious  and 


176  TWIN    ROSES. 

revered  memory  to  which  gratitude  could  cling. 
But  Jessie,  through  her  own  fault,  knew  them  not. 

In  Herman's  absence  a  colored  domestic,  desig- 
nated as  "Aunt  Sylvia,"  was  Jessie's  sole,  but 
constant  companion. 

Aunt  Sylvia,  in  common  with  those  of  her  race, 
looked  down  with  supreme  contempt  upon  "  poor 
white  trash."  This  is  the  appellation  commonly 
given  by  negroes  to  persons  who  are  not  sur- 
rounded by  the  appliances  of  wealth  and  family. 
She  at  first  treated  the  actor's  wife  as  though  it 
were  a  condescension  to  serve  her.  But  Jessie's 
mild  tones  and  gentle  ways  soon  found  an  avenue 
to  the  kind  heart  that  beat  in  her  swarthy  bosom. 

Then  Aunt  Sylvia  had  "  gotten  religion,"  and 
was  a  devotee  after  her  own  peculiar  fashion. 
There  is  little  doubt  that  the  religious  impulses 
of  the  colored  population  are  remarkably  strong. 
But  religion,  to  be  received  by  them,  must  take 
some  boisterous,  highly  stimulating  form.  It 
must  find  vent  in  declamation,  and  groans,  and 
protestations,  and  constant  psalm-singing,  and 
the  rejection  of  certain  so-called  amusements. 
The  calm,  certain  faith,  the  settled  principle,  the 
life  of  daily,  unostentatious  goodness,  which  con- 
stituted Jessie's  piety,  Aunt  Sylvia  could  nrvi-r 
have  comprehended. 


TWIN   ROSES.  177 

The  generality  of  colored  people,  in  Richmond, 
are  Baptists.  Aunt  Sylvia  had  been  immersed — 
had  made  open  profession  of  faith — had  renounced 
certain  vain  pleasures,  such  as  dancing,  sight- 
seeing, and  merry  making.  A  theatre,  to  which 
the  husband  of  her  invalid  charge  belonged — ay, 
that  was  the  devil's  workshop,  and  no  mistake! 
Aunt  Sylvia  had  great  concern  about  poor 
Jessie's  soul ;  she  hoped  that  it  might  be  saved ; 
she  was  quite  secure  about  her  own,  and  was 
always  hankering  after  the  guardianship  of  other 
people's. 

"  Ah  !  Missus,  I  wish  you'd  made  your  blessed 
bed  in  Heaven.  I  wish  you  had !  I'se  •  done 
gone  and  renounced  de  world  myself.  I  don't 
believe  but  dat  you  couldn't  do  no  better  dan 
jus  follow  old  Sylvy.  Fse  been  wrastlin  in 
prayer  for  ye,  and  I  want  to  hear  ye  a  shoutin 
hallelujahs  ! " 

Thus  she  would  address  Jessie,  in  pitying  tones, 
and  with  many  doleful  shakes  ob  her  Madras 
kerchiefed  head. 

"  You're  very  good  to  think  of  me,"  answered 
Jessie  meekly. 

"  It's  de  Lord  dats  a  thinking  ob  you,  honey, 
and  it's  his  mouthpiece  I  am,  jus  as  Aaron  was 
Moseses.  I  tell  you,  young  marster  ought  jus  to 


178  TWIN    ROSES. 

give  up  dem  courses  ob  play  acting.  Oh  !  its 
fearful  in  de  sight  ob  de  Lord  ! "  and  Aunt 
Sylvia  wrung  her  hands  and  groaned  deeply. 

Jessie  was  too  feeble  to  remonstrate ;  she  could 
only  answer,  "  I  will  talk  to  you  about  that  when 
I  am  better,  Aunt  Sylvia." 

"  It's  too  weak  you  are  now,  honey,  sure 
enough,  but  you'll  give  de  matter  an  early  sidera- 
tion,  won't  ye  ?  And  I'll  send  up  a  prayer  to  de 
Lord  dat  he'll  give  ye  your  own  time  for  repent- 
ing. For  I'm  afraid  your  salvation's  dubersome, 
any  how.  So  now,  go  you  to  sleep,  honey,  for  dis 
present." 

Aunt  Sylvia,  on  many  other  occasions,  strove 
to  lure  Jessie  into  religious  discussions.  Jessie 
admired  the  old  black  woman's  earnestness,  but 
she  would  not  argue  with  her.  All  contention 
was  so  revolting  to  her  mild  nature  that,  as 
Goethe  said,  "  If  Raphael  had  painted  it,  and 
Shakespeare  dramatized  it,  it  would  not  be  en- 
durable." 

Herman  had  his  way  to  make  in  a  fresh  field, 
before  this  unknown  audience.  He  came  to 
them  an  unheralded  stranger,  and  he  had  all 
his  laurels  to  win  anew.  He  toiled  untiringly, 
but  reward  came  slowly.  His  impatience  \v:is 
calmed  down  in  the  severe  schools  through  which 


TWIN   ROSES.  179 

he  was  passing.  Perseverance  had  taken  its 
place  and  walked  hand  in  hand  with  energy. 

The  theatre  closed  at  the  end  of  April.  The 
season  had  been  unusually  prosperous.  Herman 
received  an  offer  to  take  the  head  of  the  company 
again  in  the  autumn.  He  hesitated  about  ac- 
cepting. The  climate  had  not  materially  bene- 
fited Jessie.  The  cold  was  much  less  intense 
than  in  Boston,  but  the  houses  were  lightly  built, 
and  did  not  offer  the  same  protection  against  the 
weather.  True,  the  balmy  spring  air  that  revivi- 
fied all  nature,  had  not  breathed  on  Jessie  in  vain. 
She  recovered  sufficiently  to  be  able  to  take  short 
rambles,  leaning  on  Herman's  arm,  and  a  faint 
hue  returned  to  her  cheek ;  but  the  low,  deep 
cough  still  struck  like  a  knell  upon  his  ear ;  and 
the  hurried  pulse,  and  burning  hands,  told  that  the 
fires  of  disease  were  only  smothered,  not  extin- 
guished; they  were  slowly  consuming  the  sources 
of  life. 

"  Travel  with  your  wife,"  was  the  medical  ad- 
vice he  received.  "  Change  of  scene — fresh  air — 
beautiful  prospects,  will  do  more  to  invigorate  her 
than  all  the  medicine  that  was  ever  concocted." 

Travel !  that  was  always  a  delightful  sound  to 
Herman,  .and  Jessie  smiled  hopefully  when  it  was 
uttered,  for  she  too  shared  her  husband's  passion 


180  TWIN   ROSES. 

for  picturesque  scenery,  and  note-worthy  sights. 
And  they  were  in  Virginia — that  Queen  of  States, 
so  richly  endowed  with  mountains,  forests,  rivers, 
springs,  mines!  Virginia,  the  Mother  of  the 
English  Colonies,  in  whose  bosom  Freedom  was 
born — Virginia,  the  home  of  Washington,  the 
greatest  of  heroes  and  of  men!  They  agreed 
that  their  first  pilgrimage  should  be  to  the  spot 
he  had  called  home,  while  living,  and  where  his 
ashes  were  entombed. 

Then,  if  Jessie's  strength  permitted,  they  would 
cross  that  magnificent  chain  of  mountains — the 
Blue  Ridge, —  would  visit  the  wonderful  Natural 
Bridge,  and  Weyer's  far-famed  cave,  and  some 
of  those  much-talked  of  springs, — the  white  sul- 
phur, or  the  red,  or  the  yellow,  the  Alum  Springs, 
or  the  Sweet  Springs !  "  They  might  perhaps 
restore  you ! "  said  Herman. 

But  a  nervous  tremor  seized  Jessie  at  the 
very  thought  of  this  last  proposition.  To  be 
brought  in  contact  with  strangers  at  a  fashion- 
able watering-place  would  have  been  torture. 

"  Not  to  the  Springs,  Herman.  Let  us  leave 
them  out  of  the  journey.  They  would  not 
benefit  me." 

"As  you  will,  little  wife,  but  where  shall  we 
go  first  ?  " 


TWIN  ROSES.  181 

"  Oh !  to  Mount  Vernon,"  exclaimed  Jessie. 
"  If  there  were  but  one  spot  that  I  could  visit  in 
this  beautiful  land,  it  would  be  the  memory- 
hallowed  home  and  grave  of  the  father  of  his 
country.  No  land  contains  such  ashes  as  those ! " 


16 


182  TWIN  KOSES. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

MOUNT  VERNON. 

AUNT  SYLVIA  was  not  sparing  of  tender  ad- 
monitions to  Herman  and  Jessie  on  the  morning 
that  they  started  on  their  excursion.  With  truly 
maternal  interest  she  made  the  needful  prepara- 
tions, busied  herself  with  oacking,  in  the  most 
efficient  manner,  and  spared  Jessie  all  avoidable 
fatigue. 

Jessie  gratefully  clasped  the  ebon  hand  of  the 
affectionate  old  woman",  and  promised  that  she 
would  return,  looking  much  stronger,  in  three  days. 

On  a  balmy  May  morning  they  took  their 
seats  in  the  early  train  to  Aquia  Creek,  and 
reached  Washington,  by  steamboat,  at  two 
o'clock. 

Jessie  was  so  much  fatigued  that  she  at  once 
sought  repose,  but  she  read  Herman's  inclina- 
tions too  clearly  to  desire  that  he  would  remain 
at  her  side.  At  her  earnest  request  he  left  lu-r, 
and  was  soon  exploring  the  seat  of  government 
in  his  usual  impetuous,  rapid  style,  gathering 


TWIN   ROSES.  183 

information  as  he  went  from  every  chance  asso- 
ciate of  the  hour. 

The  next  morning  found  Jessie  wonderfully 
revived.  It  was  long  since  Herman  had  beheld 
her  so  cheerful,  so  almost  merry  as  when  they 
went  on  board  the  small  steamboat  that  conveyed 
pilgrims  to  "  Washington's  beloved  Mount 
Vernon,"  his  "  earthly  paradise,"  as  it  is  styled 
by  his  illustrious  chronicler,  Washington  Irving. 
Her  look  and  tone  recalled  the  image  of  her 
former  buoyant  self,  and  Herman  sighed  when 
he  remembered  what  a  change  love  for  him  had 
wrought. 

During  her  residence  in  Virginia  she  had  ap- 
peared singularly  depressed.  Her  mind  had  be- 
come almost  morbidly  sensitive  on  the  subject 
of  her  husband's  profession.  She  held  herself 
so  .shrinkingly  aloof  from  those  who  would  wil- 
lingly have  become  her  friends,  that  there  was  no 
opportunity  of  discovering  that  she  labored  under 
a  delusion,  and  misjudged  the  opinions  and  incli- 
nations of  many. 

Her  thoughts  constantly  and  painfully  dwelt 
on  one  subject.  Even  as  she  sat,  musingly,  on 
the  deck  of  the  steamboat,  gazing  upon  the  calm 
waters,  through  which  they  were  somewhat 
slowly  ploughing  their  way,  she  turned  to  Her- 


V 
184  TWIN  ROSES. 

man  and  exclaimed,  "  Washington  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  church,  was  he  not  ?  His 
piety  was  the  crown  of  his  greatness?  Who 
can  dispute  that  he  was  as  good  as  he  was 
heroic  ?  that  he  set  a  public  example  by  his  own 
irreproachable  line  of  conduct  ?  Yet  history  tes- 
tifies that  he  was  a  lover  of  the  drama ;  that  he 
delighted  in  theatrical  representations ;  that  when 
he  entered  a  theatre,  he  was  cheered  by  the  audi- 
ence, and  with  cordial  dignity  acknowledged  the 
greeting.  Can  his  countrymen,  then,  his  Vir- 
ginia brethren  in  particular,  have  the  temerity  to 
denounce  what  he  approved?  They  must  ap- 
proach, surpass  his  virtues  before  they  gain  the 
right  to  judge,  condemn  his  actions." 

"  Two  facts ! "  replied  Herman  gaily.  "  The 
one  to  be  drawn  from  inference,  the  former  his- 
torical, and  most  pleasant  for  such  as  you  and  I 
to  contemplate.  Washington  certainly  approved 
of  dramatic  representations,  and  apparently  some 
of  his  countrymen  differ  with  him  in  opinion. 
His  predilection  for  the  drama  is  further  proved 
by  the  private  theatricals  over  which  he  himself 
presided  in  the  Presidential  mansion." 

"  True — it  cheers  me  to  remember  that !  I 
have  had  need  of  such  recollections  since  I  lived 
in  Virginia.  The  oppression  which  the  heavy 


TWIN   ROSES.  185 

hand  of  opinion  has  laid  upon  me  is  removed 
when  I  reflect  that  this  is  the  man  to  whose 
greatness  and  goodness  both  continents  have 
done  homage.  Do  you  remember  those  lines  of 
Byron's, 

1  Where  may  the  wearied  eye  repose 

When  gazing  on  the  Great; 
Where  neither  guilty  glory  glows 

Xor  despicable  state  ? 
Yes  one,  the  first,  the  best,  the  last, 
The  Cincinnatus  of  the  West, 
Whom  envy  dared  not  hate, 
Bequeathed  the  name  of  Washington 
To  make  men  blush  there  was  but  one ! '  " 

At  this  moment  they  drew  near  the  rude 
wharf ;  the  boat  stopped ;  and  the  crowd  of  pas- 
sengers landed. 

By  a  narrow  pathway  they  ascended  a  majes- 
tic hill  thickly  draped  with  trees.  The  sun 
scarcely  found  its  way  through  the  luxuriant 
foliage.  They  mounted  slowly,  but  had  only 
spent  a  few  minutes  in  ascending,  when  they 
came  suddenly  upon  a  picturesque  nook,  where  a 
cluster  of  unostentatious,  white  marble  shafts, 
shot  from  greenly  sodded  earth,  inclosed  by  iron 
railings.  These  unpretending  monuments  mark 
the  localities  where  repose  the  mortal  remains  of 
Washington's  kindred. 

Just  beyond  stands  a  square  brick-building. 
16* 


186  TWIN   ROSES. 

In  the  centre  you  see  an  iron  gate.  Here  the 
crowd  pauses  in  reverential  silence.  Men  lift 
their  hats  and  women  bow  their  heads.  You 
behold  within,  two  sarcophagi.  In  those  mould- 
ering tombs  lie  the  ashes  of  the  great  Washington 
and  his  wife. 

Not  a  word  is  uttered  as  the  crowd  stand 
gazing  on  this  lowly  receptacle  of  the  dust  of 
America's  mighty  dead. 

Are  there  any  in  that  group  who  can  say, 
"  this  was  our  country's  father  ? "  If  there  be, 
can  they  stand  pilgrims  at  that  grave  without 
Washington's  examples,  his  counsels,  his  words, 
heretofore,  it  may  be,  half  forgotten,  stealing  back 
into  their  minds,  until  the  sense  of  reverence  and 
gratitude  is  deepened  almost  to  awe  ?  Do  they 
not  feel  that  Washington's  spirit  is  abroad  in 
the  world,  filling  the  souls  of  a  heaven-favored 
people  with  the  love  of  freedom  and  of  country, 
though  his  ashes  are  gathered  here  ? 

Some  one  moves  to  pass  on,  and  with  that 
first  step  the  spell  is  broken ;  others  follow.  Her- 
man and  Jessie  linger  last.  After  a  period  of 
mute  and  moving  reflection,  they  turn  away  and 
slowly  approach  the  mansion  that  in  simple, 
rural  stateliness,  stands  upon  a  noble  promontory, 
belted  with  woods,  and  half-girdled  by  the  spark- 


TWIN   ROSES.  187 

ling  waters  of  the  Potomac  which  flow  in  a  semi- 
circle around  a  portion  of  the  mount. 

The  water  and  woodland  view  from  the  por- 
tico is  highly  imposing.  But  it  was  not  the  mere 
recognition  of  the  picturesque  and  beautiful  in 
nature  that  moved  Herman  and  Jessie.  They 
would  have  felt  that  they  were  on  holy  ground, 
had  the  landscape  been  devoid  of  natural  charm. 
Here  the  feet  of  the  first  of  heroes  had  trod ; — 
here  in  boyhood  he  had  sported  with  his  beloved 
brother  Lawrence ; — in  those  forests,  those  deep- 
wooded  glens,  he  had  hunted,  when  a  stripling, 
by  the  side  of  old  Lord  Fairfax ; — here  he  took 
his  first  lessons  in  the  art  of  war ; — to  this  home 
he  brought  his  bride ; — by  this  old-fashioned, 
hospitable-looking  fireside,  he  sat  with  that  dear 
and  faithful  wife  ; — beneath  yonder  alley  of  lofty 
trees  he  has  often  wandered  by  her  side ; — here 
he  indulged  the  agricultural  tastes  in  which  he 
delighted; — here  resigned  his  Cincinnatus  voca- 
tion and  bade  adieu  to  his  cherished  home  at  the 
summons  of  his  country.  Here  his  wife  received 
the  letter  which  told  her  that  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed command er-in-chief  of  the  army; — here, 
when  the  glorious  struggle  closed  at  the  trumpet 
notes  of  victory — when  the  British  had  retired — 
when,  with  tears  coursing  down  his  benignant, 


188  TWIN   ROSES. 

manly  countenance,  he  had  uttered  a  touching 
farewell — bestowed  a  paternal  benediction  on  the 
American  army,  and  resigned  all  public  service — 
here  he  returned,  thinking  to  resume  the  rural 
pursuits  that  charmed  him,  and  to  end  his  days 
in  peace !  Here  are  the  trees — the  shrubbery  he 
planted  with  his  own  hands,  and  noted  in  his 
diary  ; — here  are  the  columns  of  the  portico  round 
which  he  twined  the  coral  honeysuckle  ; — the  ivy 
he  transplanted  still  clings  to  yonder  garden 
wall ; — these  vistas  he  opened  through  yon  pine 
groves  to  command  far-off  views !  Here  the 
valiant  Lafayette  sojourned  with  him ;  there 
hangs  the  key  of  the  Bastile  which  he  presented. 
Here  flocked  the  illustrious  men  of  all  climes,  and 
were  received  with  warm,  unpretending,  almost 
rustic  hospitality.  Here  the  French  Houdon 
modelled  his  statue,  and  the  English  Pine  painted 
his  portrait,  and  caused  that  jocose  remark,  "  I  am 
so  hackneyed  to  the  touches  of  the  painters' 
pencil  that  I  am  altogether  at  their  beck,  and  sit 
like  '  Patience  on  a  monument ! ' ' 

Then  came  another  summons  from  the  land  he 
had  saved,  and  he  was  chosen  by  unanimous 
voice  its  chief  ruler. 

Thousands  of  men,  women,  and  children,  sent 
up  acclamations,  and  called  down  blessings  on  his 


TWIN  ROSES.  189 

head,  as  he  made  his  triumphal  progress  from 
Mount  Vernon  to  New  York,  to  take  the  Presi- 
dential oath.  The  roar  of  cannon  rent  the  air. 
The  streets,  through  which  he  passed,  were  illumi- 
nated and  decked  with  flags  and  wreaths.  Bon- 
fires blazed  on  the  hills.  From  ships  and  boats 
floated  festive  decorations.  At  Gray's  Ferry  he 
passed  under  triumphal  arches.  On  the  bridge 
across  the  Assumpink,  (the  very  bridge  over  which 
he  had  retreated  in  such  blank  despair  before  the 
army  of  Cornwallis  on  the  eve  of  the  battle  of 
Princeton,)  thirteen  pillars,  twined  with  laurel  and 
evergreens,  were  reared  by  woman's  hands.  The 
foremost  of  the  arches  those  columns  supported, 
bore  the  inscription,  "  The  Defender  of  the 
Mothers  will  be  the  Protector  of  the  Daughters." 
Mothers,  with  their  white-robed  daughters,  were 
assembled  beneath  the  vernal  arcade.  Thirteen 
maidens  scattered  flowers  beneath  his  feet  as  they 
sang  an  ode  of  gratulation.  The  people's  hero 
ever  after  spoke  of  this  tribute  as  the  one  that 
touched  him  most  deeply. 

When  his  first  Presidential  term  expired  and 
his  heart  yearned  for  the  peace  of  his  domestic 
hearth,  the  entreaties  of  Jefferson,  Randolph,  and 
Hamilton,  forced  him  to  forget  that  home  for  the 
one  he  held  in  the  hearts  of  patriots,  and  to  allow 


190  TWIN   ROSES. 

his  name  to  be  used  a  second  time.  A  second 
time  he  was  unanimously  elected  to  preside  over 
his  country's  welfare.  But,  the  period  happily 
expired,  he  thankfully  laid  aside  the  mantle  of 
state,  the  sceptre  of  power,  and,  five  days  after- 
the  inauguration  of  Adams,  returned  here  to  his 
Mount  Vernon  home.  And  here  the  good  ser- 
vant, whom  his  Lord,  when  he  came,  found  watch- 
ing and  ready,  calmly  yielded  up  his  breath,  ex- 
claiming, "  It  is  well !  "  and  his  spirit  was  wafted 
to  Heaven  by  the  blessings  of  his  enfranchised 
countrymen. 

Such  were  the  events  upon  which  Herman  and 
Jessie  conversed  during  the  hours  that  glided 
away  at  Mount  Vernon. 

Herman  could  not  but  wonder,  and  not  wholly 
without  indignation,  that  while  the  earthly  dwell- 
ings of  so  many  men,  rendered  illustrious  by  their 
genius  or  their  great  deeds,  were  held  sacred  in  the 
old  world,  this  home  of  America's  peerless  patriot, 
the  most  hallowed  ground  of  the  new  land,  had 
not  been  snatched  from  the  chances  of  profana- 
tion and  ruin,  and  set  apart  as  a  shrine  to  which 
young  and  old  might  make  pilgrimages,  and  be 
inspired  with  holy  and  patriotic  emotions  as  they 
visited  the  scenes  consecrated  by  the  memory — 
the  virtues,  of  the  departed  hero. 


TWIN   ROSES.  191 

"  The  day  for  that  token  of  a  nation's  reverence 
must — will  come  " — answered  Jessie  confidently. 
"  The  land  is  young — it  has  not  had  time,  in  its 
bustling  struggle  for  existence,  to  claim  to  itself 
the  tomb  upon  which  the  spirit  of  liberty  sits  en- 
throned. But  Mount  Vernon  will  not  be  dese- 
crated. If  governments  are  forgetful,  there  are 
too  many  grateful  hearts  in  the  breasts  of  Ameri- 
can women  for  Mount  Vernon,  the  home  of  their 
father,  to  become  a  ruin.  What  did  you  tell  me  of 
the  raising  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Monument  ?  When 
men  shrank  at  the  prospect  of  failure,  did  not 
woman  press  forward  and  finish  what  their 
brothers  began  ?  And  may  not  the  efforts  of  the 
faithful  and  devoted  women  of  the  land  preserve, 
enshrine  Mount  Vernon?" 

"  Enthusiast !  "  said  Herman,  "  do  you  suppose 
they  could  accomplish  such  an  Herculean  task  ?  " 

"  Yes  " — replied  Jessie  with  fervor,  "  that,  or  any 
good  and  holy  work  to  which  they  devote  their 
best  energies.  Let  but  a  master-spirit  (Heaven- 
appointed)  lead  them  and  mark  out  the  way — one 
noble,  self-sacrificing  and  wholly  unselfish,  patri- 
otic woman,  and  thousands  of  hands  and  hearts 
will  labor  with  her — they  will  share  her  laurels, 
but  the  work  will  truly  be  hers,  and  it  will  surely 
be  accomplished." 


192  TWIN  ROSES. 

At  this  moment  the  sounding  of  a  bell  gave 
warning  that  the  boat  was  about  to  return, 
and  they  reluctantly  retraced  their  steps  to  the 
wharf. 


TWIN    ROSES.  193 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    NATURAL    BRIDGE. 

THE  next  morning  Herman  and  Jessie  returned 
to  Richmond.  Aunt  Sylvia's  shining  ebon  face 
was  the  first  to  greet  them  as  they  entered  the 
hotel.  What  a  row  of  glittering  teeth  her  broad 
smile  of  welcome  disclosed !  Herman  had  hardly 
lifted  Jessie  from  the  carriagfe  when  she  found 
herself  in  the  old  Auntie's  arms,  almost  stifled  by 
the  heartiness  of  her  hug. 

"  It's  old  Sylvy  dat's  glad  in  her  heart  to  see 
you,  my  young  missus !  Fse  gwine  to  send  up  a 
shout  ob  thanksgiving  dis  night  cause  I'se  got  ye 
back  safe.  Ye  always  peared  just  like  a  lamb  to 
old  Sylvy,  and  she  missed  ye  strayed  from  de  fold. 
How  you  do,  young  marster  ?  "  shaking  hands 
violently,  in  the  warmth  of  her  affection,  with 
Herman.  "  Are  you  gwine  to  take  up  de  young 
missus,  or  has  she  gotten  her  legs  again  ?  " 

"  I  can  walk,  thank  you,  Aunt  Sylvia,"  said 
Jessie  gratefully.  "  You  see  travelling  has  done 
me  good.  I  am  much  stronger  already." 

17 


194  TWIN    KOSES. 

As  Jessie  and  Herman  ascended  the  stair,  Aunt 
Sylvia  followed,  ejaculating,  "  De  Lord's  had 
mercy  on  her,  sure  enough  She'll  be  spared  to 
become  a  servant  ob  de  Lord's  yet — a  brand 
snatched  from  de  burning!  She'll  sing  her 
hallelujah  before  de  tabernacle  ob  de  Lord — she 
will!" 

After  two  days'  rest,  Jessie  declared  herself 
quite  refreshed.  She  begged  that  they  might 
commence  their  journey  to  the  Natural  Bridge 
on  the  next  morning.  They  were  to  start  early. 
Aunt  Sylvia  roused  them  just  as  the  sun  shot  his 
first  golden  rays  through  the  night  clouds.  The 
motherly  old  woman  had  prepared  for  Jessie  and 
insisted  upon  her  drinking  a  cup  of  hot  coffee 
"  to  keep  out  de  damp  ah-,"  and  thrust  into  her 
travelling  reticule  a  "  snack,"  wrapped  in  paper, 
to  refresh  her  on  the  road. 

The  travellers  were  comfortably  seated  in  the 
Danville  cars  a  little  before  six,  and  reached 
Lynchburg  at  one  o'clock,  whirling  onward  to 
Buford's  Gap,  where  they  arrived  at  half-past 
two. 

Herman  and  Jessie  were  lost  in  admiration  of 
the  constantly  changing  but  ever  pictorial  beauty 
of  the  scenery  which  they  flew  past,  on  "  vapory 
pinions;"  the  rolling,  undulating  ground,  now 


TWIN    ROSES.  195 

swelling  into  verdant  hills,  now  sinking  into 
smooth,  green  valleys ;  the  pleasant  groves  of 
pine,  cedar,  arbor  vitae,  scattered  at  intervals ; 
the  lofty  umbrage  of  majestic  oaks,  with  their 
shining,  sharply  cut  leaves;  the  bright  foliage 
of  the  mountain  laurel,  in  its  first,  soft,  spring 
freshness ;  the  tremulous  sunbeams  quivering 
through  a  vernal  screen,  and  flinging  shadows 
over  the  living  landscape  that  vary  in  tint  as  the 
hues  of  a  kaleidoscope ;  the  ground,  "  fresh  cloven 
by  the  plough,"  and  giving  promise  of  golden 
harvests ;  the  James  River,  winding  its  murmur- 
ing way  through  willow-fringed  banks,  and  break- 
ing ever  and  anon  at  unexpected  turns  upon  the 
eager  sight! 

And  now  they  catch  a  momentary  glimpse  of 
the  magnificent  mountain  range  called  the  Blue 
Ridge.  The  regal  mountains  disappear  as  the 
train  rushes  onward.  Now,  in  the  purple  dis- 
tance, the  Peaks  of  Otter,  crowned  with  an  aerial 
diadem  of  amethysts,  shoot  up  in  stately,  solitary 
grandeur  against  the  horizon. 

The  train  has  reached  its  destination. 

"  Can  it  be  eight  hours  and  a  half  since  we  left 
Richmond  ?  "  exclaimed  Jessie. 

"  It  hardly  seemed  one  hour  to  me  ! "  answered 
Herman. 


196  TWIN  ROSES. 

They  are  at  Buford's  Gap.  They  enter  the 
stagecoach.  Jessie  declares  she  has  never  seen 
a  coach  so  comfortable.  It  is  not  three  o'clock 
when  they  commence  ascending  the  Blue  Ridge, 
which  they  must  traverse  before  they  can  reach 
Buchanan.  The  winding  road  runs  through  a 
noble  forest  of  gigantic  growth.  At  every  in- 
stant new  views  of  the  wonderful  mountain-chain 
burst  on  the  enraptured  gaze  of  the  travellers. 
And  what  marvellous  variety  of  coloring !  One 
mountain  appears  tinged  with  a  rich  purple  hue 
so  dark  that  it  becomes  almost  black,  contrasted 
with  the  ethereal  blue  against  which  it  reposes; 
the  neighboring  mountain  seems  a  shelving  sea 
of  vivid  green,  with  the  shadow  of  the  clouds 
trembling  on  its  bosom.  And  that  mountain 
yonder — a  pearly  light  drops  down  its  sides  be- 
tween long  streaks  of  gray ;  its  bride-like  com- 
panion is  robed  in  a  filmy  white  garment,  with 
misty  folds  of  opal. 

Jessie's  keen  enjoyment  of  the  sublime  and 
beautiful  is  quickened  to  ecstasy,  because  Her- 
man's arm  is  about  her,  his  voice  in  her  ears,  his 
eyes,  when  turned  from  nature's  glorious  pano- 
rama, are  looking  into  hers.  Their  spirits  are 
attuned  to  the  same  key  of  exalted  admiration. 
It  is  a  halcyon  season  for  them.  There  must  be 


TWIN  ROSES.  197 

heaven  within  to  make  heaven  around — we 
carry  our  heaven  about  with  us, — thus  they 
made  and  found  theirs. 

The  stage  moved  very  slowly. 

"  Oh  !  let  us  walk,"  said  Jessie,  "  we  can  easily 
keep  up  with  the  coach.  We  must  not  lose  the 
least  portion  of  this  grandly  beautiful  scenery." 

"  Are  you  strong  enough  ? "  asked  Herman 
tenderly. 

"  Yes — yes — these  mountains  quite  lift  me  out 
of  myself,  and  make  me  forget  my  own  feeble- 
ness." 

Herman  descended,  and  Jessie  sprang  from  the 
coach  with  an  elastic  bound  to  which  she  had 
long  been  a  stranger. 

The  earth  exhaled  a  refreshing  odor,  that  min- 
gled with  the  delicious  aroma  of  the  blossoming 
locust,  and  greeted  them  with  a  fragrant  wel- 
come. The  dogwood  spread  wide  its  branching 
arms,  covered  with  white  blossoms,  as  though  to 
overshadow  them.  Wild  flowers,  in  luxuriant 
profusion,  had  pierced  the  tender  earth,  and 
hung  their  floral  wreaths  on  the  mountain's 
side  to  gladden  their  eyes. 

Herman  hardly  waited  for  Jessie's  bidding  to 
clamber  up  the  steep  ascent  and  gather  violets 
(very  large  ones,  of  darkly  rich  hue),  mountain 


198  TWIN   ROSES. 

pinks ;  bright  scarlet  flowers,  for  which  they  knew 
no  name ;  the  lily-shaped,  snowy  clusters  of  the 
whortleberry  blossoms;  honeysuckles  in  abun- 
dance, some  rose-tinted,  some  of  a  coral  hue, 
some  of  a  deep  salmon  color.  The  luxuriant 
buds  of  the  rhododendron  gave  abundant  prom- 
ise, but  none  were  yet  in  bloom. 

Jessie  paused  in  admiration  before  a  tree 
decorated,  from  its  very  crown,  with  white  tassels 
that  swept  the  ground,  or  floated  on  the  air  when 
stirred  by  the  lightest  breeze. 

"  Pray,  Herman,  inquire  the  name  of  that  tree. 
I  have  never  seen  one  like  it.  How  graceful! 
how  delicate !  how  beautiful ! " 

"  They  call  it  the  fringe-tree,"  replied  the  driver 
to  Herman's  inquiry. 

A  more  apposite  name  could  not  have  been 
chosen. 

Just  then  Herman  caught  sight  of  a  hawthorn, 
upon  which  a  single  branch  still  lingered  in 
bloom ;  he  broke  it  off  hastily,  and  brought  it  to 
Jessie. 

"  Do  you  remember  the  day  upon  which  I  first 
saw  you,  Jessie  ?  Your  arms  were  filled  with 
May-bloom!  But  the  flowers  of  the  hawthorn 
here,  you  see,  are  smaller,  and  have  not  so  roseate 
a  tint  as  in  England." 


TWIN   HOSES.  199 

As  Jessie  took  the  branch,  her  thoughts  flew 
back  to  the  little  chamber  which  she  had  entered 
with  such  a  joyous,  careless  heart  on  that  memor- 
able morning.  The  mystic  branch  had  invoked 
the  image  of  her  far-off  sister — a  vision  of  her 
absent  child !  She  had  felt  no  fatigue  until  that 
moment.  Now  she  clung  to  Herman's  arm,  and 
begged  him  to  place  her  again  in  the  coach. 
These  memories  have  suddenly  sapped  her 
strength. 

Herman  had  not  noticed  her  agitation ;  he 
thought  she  was  simply  tired.  She  sat  silent, 
with  the  bright  flowers  heaped  on  her  lap,  and 
the  one  hawthorn  branch  laid  above  the  rest, — 
her  eyes  were  fixed  on  that  alone;  but  Herman 
was  gazing  from  the  window  with  unabated 
enjoyment. 

They  had  reached  the  summit,  and  Jessie  was 
roused  from  her  reverie  by  the  grand  descent 
which  the  coach  made  with  locked  wheels.  They 
were  rushing,  plunging  down  an  almost  perpen- 
dicular road.  The  heaven-embracing  mountains 
around  were  bathed  in  the  crimson  and  gold  of 
the  setting  sun — now  fading  into  violet,  now 
melting  into  gray.  The  rapid  motion  of  the 
coach,  the  gazing  down  upon  the  lofty  eminences 
to  which  they  before  looked  up,  the  dashing  past 


200  TWIN.  ROSES. 

them,  was  startling,  almost  bewildering.  Perhaps 
nothing  less  exciting  could  have  recalled  Jessie's 
thoughts  to  a  consciousness  of  the  present  hour. 

About  seven  in  the  evening,  the  travellers 
arrived  at  the  pretty  village  of  Buchanan,  in  the 
valley  of  Virginia,  and  entered  a  modest,  well- 
kept  hotel. 

Behind  the  house  looms  up  Purgatory  moun- 
tain, with  its  bleak,  burnt,  rugged  surface  con- 
trasting strangely  with  its  richly  wooded  moun- 
tain neighbors. 

Purgatory  creek  runs  from  the  mountain's 
base,  its  dark,  sluggish  waters  not  inappropriately 
named. 

This  mountain  had  been  set  on  fire  some  years 
before,  and  its  verdure  completely  destroyed. 

As  the  queen  of  night  rose  above  the  unsightly 
pile,  her  beautifying  presence  changed  the  sombre 
mists  to  silver,  and  enveloped  the  arid  mountain 
in  a  mantle  of  glittering  haze.  So  the  heavenly 
light  of  truth  clothes  some  harsh  reality  of  life 
with  comforting  loveliness. 

At  eight  in  the  morning,  Herman  and  Jessie 
seated  themselves  in  a  light  vehicle,  which  they 
hired  at  the  inn,  and  took  their  way  through  the 
verdant  valley  of  Virginia  towards  the  Natural 
Bridge. 


TWIN   ROSES.  201 

The  Blue  Ridge,  with  amaranthine  wreaths 
of  mist  encircling  its  august  brows,  was  con- 
stantly in  view.  The  land  was 

"  Dimpled  close  with  hill  and  valley, 
Dimpled  very  close  with  shade." 

Fertile  glades  spread  their  emerald  carpeting  on 
every  side.  All  nature  was  instinct  with  life. 
Now  and  then  the  murmur  of  some  silver-toned 
brook  caught  the  ear,  and  its  waters,  irrigating 
the  green  pastures,  flashed  and  danced  in  the 
sunshine. 

A  jocose  driver,  yclept  Camper,  amused  the 
travellers  by  his  comic  snatches  of  songs,  often 
appropriate  to  the  subject  of  conversation,  his 
apt  queries,  and  quaint,  unsolicited  discussions 
of  the  topics  of  the  day. 

They  drove  across  the  wonderful  bridge  with- 
out being  aware  of  their  passage.  The  sides  are 
fenced  in  to  guard  against  accidents.  When 
Camper  laughingly  informed  them  that  they  had 
passed  over,  Jessie's  disappointment  was  so  great 
that  he  repented  of  the  trick  with  which  he  was 
wont  to  surprise  travellers. 

They  had  travelled  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
two  miles  west  of  the  city  of  Richmond. 

Just  beyond  the  bridge  is  a  small  rustic  hotel, 


202  TWIN   ROSES. 

(with  somewhat  primitive  accommodations,)  and 
here  the  party  alight.  They  are  impatient  to 
behold  the  wondrous  arch,  and  a  guide  is  fur- 
nished at  once. 

He  conducted  them  down  a  steep  declivity,  on 
the  mountain's  side,  which  led  beneath  the  bridge. 
The  road  was  rough  and  wild,  but  its  sylvan 
beauty  made  amends.  Herman  was  intent  on 
supporting  Jessie,  for  the  sharp  stones,  more  than 
once,  cut  through  the  too  delicate  covering  of  her 
feet.  He  did  not  note  what  progress  they  made ; 
he  hardly  looked  up. 

They  were  just  half-way  to  the  bridge.  "  Let 
me  sit  here  for  a  moment,"  said  Jessie ;  "  I  am 
so  much  exhausted,  I  must  rest." 

They  sat  down  on  a  smooth  stone  beneath  the 
shadow  of  a  spreading  cedar.  They  raised  their 
eyes — an  involuntary  exclamation  of  amazement 
broke  from  their  lips  at  the  stupendous  sight 
before  them !  They  had  caught  the  first  glimpse 
of  the  mighty  bridge,  standing  out  from  the  ver- 
dant woodland  that  mantled  its  sides. 

For  a  few  moments  they  gazed,  awe-struck, 
upon  the  imposing  spectacle.  Then  adown 
Jessie's  cheeks  the  tears  rained  in  rapid  showers. 

To  her  who  sought  for  God's  presence  every- 
where— who  traced  the  workings  of  his  Almighty 


TWIN   EOSES.  203 

hand  in  humblest  things,  how  overwhelmingly 
was  its  potent  touch  revealed  here  ! 

The  grandeur — the  sublimity  of  this  architec- 
ture of  Divine  execution  seemed  to  raise  her  up 
so  near  to  her  Creator  that  her  whole  soul  was 
thrilled  with  emotion. 

Herman  gazed  in  rapt  astonishment,  as  one 
suddenly  petrified. 

"  Can  Niagara  be  more  wonderful  than  this 
gigantic  arch  ?  "  he  ejaculated  after  a  long  silence. 

"  Not  so  high,"  answered  the  guide,  interpreting 
his  words  literally.  "  The  bridge  is  fifty-five  feet 
higher  than  the  falls  of  Niagara." 

"  Let  us  go  on  !  Let  us  approach,"  half  whis- 
pered Jessie. 

With  slow,  almost  with  reverent  steps,  they 
drew  nearer  and  nearer. 

Beneath  the  bridge  runs  Cedar  Creek,  leaping 
over  the  stones  with  a  low,  gurgling,  musical 
voice,  as  though  it  were  murmuring  a  continual 
hymn  of  praise  for  the  mighty  work  above. 

The  water  sometimes  rises  six  or  seven  feet, 
but  it  was  now  so  low  that  Herman,  Jessie,  and 
then:  guide  could  pass  beneath  the  bridge,  spring- 
ing from  rock  to  rock,  until  they  reached  a  little 
island  perfectly  dry,  and  directly  under  the  centre 
of  the  arch. 


204  TWIN  KOSES. 

Here  they  sat  down  in  the  cool  shadow  of  the 
towering  bulwark,  and  contemplated  the  scene. 

The  guide  told  them  that  the  bridge  was 
formed  of  limestone  rock — was  three  hundred 
feet  high — was  forty  feet  thick — the  chasm  fifty 
feet  wide  at  the  bottom  and  forty  at  the  top — but 
these  arithmetical  calculations  rather  jarred  on 
their  ears. 

How  Jessie  wished  that  the  guide  would  leave 
them  to  muse  alone!  As  she  looked  up  with 
swimming  eyes,  it  seemed  to  her  as  though  this 
triumphal  arch  of  nature  touched  the  cerulean 
dome  above. 

The  summit  is  fringed  with  trees  that  lean  over 
as  if  peering  into  the  abyss  beneath.  Here  and 
there,  along  the  sides  of  the  rocky  wall,  a  hardy 
child  of  the  forest  has  planted  firmly  clasping 
roots  and  spread  out  its  verdant  arms. 

The  vigorous  growth  of  the  arbor  vitae,  in  par- 
ticular, which,  in  these  regions,  obtains  unusual 
size  and  beauty,  attracted  their  attention. 

Now  the  guide  points  out  to  them  the  names 
carved  on  the  inner  side  of  the  bridge.  Wash- 
ington, who  had  performed  the  feat  of  throwing 
half  a  dollar  from  below  to  the  top,  clambered 
high,  and  inscribed  his  name.  A  few  years  ago, 
a  young  Virginian — a  member  of  the  legislature, 


TWIN  ROSES.  205 

with  a  sudden  impulse  of  ambition,  determined 
to  place  his  name  far  above  every  other.  He 
climbed  so  high  that  he  could  not  return.  He  had 
to  cut  holes  in  the  limestone,  with  his  penknife, 
to  support  himself.  His  fingers  were  torn  and 
bleeding — his  horror  baffles  description.  He  was 
forced  to  go  on  and  try  to  pass  over  the  bridge, 
as  he  could  not  descend — the  spectators  expected 
every  moment  to  see  him  dashed  to  pieces.  At 
length  ropes  were  lowered  to  him  from  the  side 
opposite  to  the  one  where  he  had  commenced  his 
perilous  ascent.  He  seized  them,  with  the  energy 
of  despair,  and  was  rescued!  He  never  wholly 
recovered  the  effects  of  the  shock.  He  could  not 
cease  to  reproach  himself  with  this  wanton  peril 
of  his  life.  He  became  a  victim  to  melancholy, 
and  could  not  bear  to  hear  his  folly  mentioned. 
He  only  lived  a  few  years,  but,  it  is  said,  became 
very  pious  before  he  died. 

The  same  feat  (so  the  guide  told  them)  had 
since  been  repeated  more  successfully,  without 
the  aid  of  ropes,  by  some  Lexington  students. 

The  patriots  of  the  Revolution  used  this  bridge 
to  make  their  shot.  The  liquid  lead  was  dropped 
from  above  into  a  receptacle  in  the  creek.  In 
this  utilitarian  land  even  the  most  marvellous 
works  of  nature  have  been  called  upon  to  per- 
18 


206  TWIN   ROSES. 

form  their  use.  Does  not  Niagara  turn  sundry 
busy  mills  ? 

Now  the  guide  bids  them  look  up  directly 
beneath  the  centre  of  the  arch,  and  asks  them 
what  they  see. 

"  An  eagle !  An  eagle  with  outspread  wings  ?  " 
exclaimed  Herman. 

It  was  indeed  a  representation  of  the  bird  that 
typifies  America,  distinctly  graven  on  the  stone. 
There  needed  no  stretch  of!  imagination  to  trace 
its  outline. 

"  There's  a  lion  too,"  said  the  guide ;  "  the 
British  lion  beneath  the  American  eagle,  some 
call  it — but  the  lion  is  not  cut  out  so  clearly." 

The  English  couple  could  not  trace  the  lion. 
Herman  defined  the  head,  but  the  lion  stamped  on 
the  natural  wall  was  somewhat  dubious,  though 
it  is  indisputable  that  the  eagle  is  carved  there. 
Other  fantastic  figures  could  be  traced,  but  none 
with  the  same  certainty  as  that  national  emblem. 

They  had  lingered  some  hours  beneath  the 
bridge,  its  marvels  still  unexhausted,  when  the 
guide  proposed  that  they  should  reascend  to 
obtain  a  view  from  above. 

They  were  loath  to  tear  themselves  away,  but, 
as  they  proposed  to  reach  Lexington  that  night, 
there  was  little  more  time  to  spare. 


TWIN    ROSES.  207 

The  ascent  was  very  fatiguing,  and  Jessie 
paused  to  rest  many  times  before  they  found 
themselves  upon  the  rocky  parapets,  looking  down 
on  the  deep  abyss.  They  passed  from  cliff  to 
cliff  to  command  different  prospects. 

Jessie's  cheek  grew  ashy  pale  as  she  gazed 
down  the  precipice,  and  the  huge  yawning  chasm 
swam  before  her  sight.  She  was  forced  to  turn 
away,  ashamed  of  her  own  weakness.  But  Her- 
man consoled  her  by  recalling  to  her  mind  that 
the  renowned  Jefferson  had  declared  his  own 
head  had  grown  sick  and  giddy  at  that  appalling 
sight. 

The  travellers  returned  to  the  hotel — partook 
of  a  light  repast,  and  at  three  o'clock,  reluctantly 
proceeded  onwards.  They  reached  the  lovely 
village  of  Lexington,  thirty-seven  miles  distant, 
by  seven.  Then*  humorous  driver,  whose  loquac- 
ity seemed  inexhaustible,  indulged  them  by  the 
way  with  songs  and  anecdotes  innumerable. 


208  TWIN    ROSES. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

WEYER'S  CAVE. 

JESSIE  was  too  much  overcome  by  fatigue  to 
proceed  to  Staunton  the  next  morning.  She 
rested  for  three  days  in  perfect  quiet,  before  Her- 
man thought  her  able  to  resume  her  journey. 

She  did  not  attempt  to  accompany  him  on  his 
visits  to  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  the 
Washington  College,  etc.  But  he  entertained  her, 
as  usual,  with  minute  and  graphic  descriptions. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth 
day,  they  took  their  places  in  the  stagecoach,  and 
reached  Staunton  at  sunset. 

The  next  day  Jessie  was  impatient  to  start  for 
Weyer's  Cave,  and  assured  Herman  that  she  was 
quite  able  to  encounter  the  fatigue  of  the  drive. 

It  was  a  cool,  delicious  morning.  They  started 
in  a  light  carriage,  at  eight  o'clock,  travelled  north- 
ward for  seventeen  miles,  and,  in  three  hours, 
reached  the  pretty  little  inn  kept  by  the  Mohlers. 
It  is  to  a  portion  of  the  Mohler  family  the  cave 
belongs. 

Jessie  was  charmed  by  the  tasteful  garden  that 


TWIN    ROSES.  209 

surrounded  the  house — the  neatness  and  sylvan 
simplicity  of  the  miniature  domain. 

They  were  received  by  a  juvenile  party,  who 
discharged  the  duties  of  hosts.  A  remarkably 
handsome  youth,  of  twelve  years,  with  an  intelli- 
gent countenance,  and  keen,  black  eyes ;  his 
brother,  about  two  years  younger,  sons  of  the 
proprietor ;  a  mulatto  boy  of  eleven,  and  his  sister, 
Rachel,  some  five  years  his  senior, — a  maiden 
who  might  have  laid  claims  to  oriental  beauty. 
Her  luminous  smile,  which  displayed  immaculate 
teeth ;  her  eyes,  large,  soft,  and  lustrous,  the  rich 
crimson  glowing  through  her  clear  olive  com- 
plexion, her  manners  indescribably  winning,  but 
modest  withal,  attracted  them  strongly.  The 
elder  portion  of  the  household  were  absent  and 
not  expected  to  return  until  the  following  day. 
It  was  astonishing  to  the  English  travellers  to 
witness  the  ease  and  gravity  with  which  this 
juvenile  band  greeted  the  guests,  learned  their 
wishes,  and  made  preparations  for  their  comfort. 

Jessie  and  Herman  preferred  sitting  on  the 
porch  to  enjoy  the  prospect ;  and  Rachel  set  before 
them  a  tray  with  snowy  bread,  delicious  butter, 
and  creamy  milk.  Her  little  brother,  she  said, 
would  guide  them  through  the  cave  when  they 
were  sufficiently  refreshed. 
18* 


210  TWIN    ROSES. 

This  boy's  whole  appearance  formed  a  strong 
contrast  to  that  of  his  sister.  He  was  silent, 
unsmiling,  and  moved  about  mechanically,  as 
though  he  were  going  through  some  forced  and 
most  undelightful  duty.  But  he  knew  every 
nook  and  corner  of  the  cave.  He  had  been 
through  it  hundreds  of  times,  and  could  find  his 
way  in  the  dark, — so  said  his  sister  Rachel. 

After  the  rural  repast,  they  set  out,  accom- 
panied by  the  boy.  The  walk  to  the  cave,  which 
lies  in  the  heart  of  a  mountain,  occupied  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour.  The  road  was  replete  with 
interest  and  beauty.  On  the  left  runs  a  branch 
of  the  noble  Shenandoah,  greeting  the  ears  of  the 
travellers  with  its  musical  ripples, — its  bright 
waters  sparkling  at  intervals  through  the  green 
foliage  that  overshadowed  its  banks.  In  the 
distance  rises  the  august  mountain  chain,  and  to 
the  left  the  stately  Massannutten  towers  in  lonely 
grandeur. 

The  narrow  path  that  shoots  up  the  side  of  the 
mountain,  leading  to  the  cavern,  is  cut  through 
the  wood.  It  is  steep  and  difficult  of  access. 
Though  Herman's  strong  arm  is  around  her, 
Jessie  has  to  pause  many  times.  At  last  they 
reach  the  rude  vestibule  which  is  built  over  the 
entrance  of  the  cave.  The  wooden  benches  are 


TWIN   ROSES.  211 

a  welcome  sight.  But  there,  close  upon  them, 
yawns  a  dark,  cavernous  mouth,  somewhat  ap- 
palling, at  the  first  glance. 

Herman,  who  never  loses  any  opportunity  of 
gathering  information,  learned  the  history  of  this 
cave  from  young  Mohler,  when  Jessie  was  mak- 
ing some  change  in  her  attire. 

While  they  are  resting,  and  the  boy-guide  is 
preparing  the  lights,  and  filling  the  huge  pockets 
of  his  jacket  with  an  abundance  of  candles  and 
matches,  Herman  recounts  to  her  that  in  1804 
one  Bernard  Weyer  was  troubled  by  the  depreda- 
tions of  a  hedgehog.  He  set  traps  for  the  in- 
truder, but  the  traps  were  sagaciously  carried  off. 
At  last  he  hunted  the  enemy  to  his  den,  and  dis- 
covered this  cave,  where  the  traps  were  safely 
stored. 

Madison's  cave  is  in  the  same  mountain.  It 
was  discovered  long  before  Weyer's  Cave,  and 
looked  upon  with  wonder ;  but  the  transcendent 
attractions  of  the  latter  have  robbed  the  former 
of  all  interest.  It  is  seldom  visited. 

The  lights  are  ready.  The  boy  hands  to  Her- 
man a  candle  placed  in  a  tin  reflector,  another 
to  Jessie,  and  bears  two  himself.  Without  a 
word  he  marches  onward,  and,  with  a  stolid  air, 
enters  the  awful  mouth.  Herman  and  Jessie 
follow. 


212  TWIN    ROSES. 

The  first  impression  was  terrifying  to  the  latter, 
but  that  sensation  was  quickly  dispelled  by  won- 
dering delight. 

To  trace  their  exact  route,  step  by  step,  through 
all  the  labyrinthine  windings  that  led  to  those 
thirty-five  chambers  of  marvels,  would  be  diffi- 
cult They  could  not  have  narrated  the  course 
of  their  subterranean  journey  themselves.  They 
only  knew  that,  descending  slowly,  they  had  been 
suddenly  introduced  into  a  hall,  which  in  the  dim 
light  seemed  ornamented  with  statues — antique 
works  of  art ;  that  they  passed  on,  as  though  in 
a  dream,  fancying  themselves  in  some  magical 
cell,  or  wizard's  cave,  to  encounter  a  succession 
of  surprises  ;  now  looking  into  deep  abysses ; 
now  climbing  stone-cut,  narrow  steps,  and  trav- 
ersing vast  halls ;  now  they  found  themselves  in 
the  temple  of  Solomon,  before  a  throne  which 
might  have  rivalled  the  great  Prophet's  in  the 
elaborate  beauty  of  its  canopied  state.  Now  they 
stand  contemplating  a  petrified  waterfall — a 
miniature  Niagara,  that  seemed  as  though  its 
frothy  torrent,  while  pouring  furiously  downward, 
had  been  suddenly  congealed ;  now  they  stand 
in  llu-  tapestry  chamber,  rich  curtains  fall  from 
the  ceiling  to  the  ground  in  folds  of  classic  grace 
that  would  have  made  an  upholsterer,  in  the 


TWIN  ROSES.  213 

days  of  Louis  XV.,  die  of  despair.  They  place 
the  candles  between  the  transparent  foldings,  and 
orient  hues  are  suddenly  revealed.  Now  they  are 
gazing  at  a  huge  organ.  The  boy  strikes  with 
his  pole  its  clearly  cut,  well-defined  pipes.  Each 
one  gives  out  a  soft,  musical  sound,  varying  in 
tone.  A  skilful  musician  might  easily  have 
called  forth  an  air  from  the  resonant  instrument. 
Here  stands  a  mammoth  drum.  A  blow  upon 
that  is  answered  by  a  deep,  sonorous  reverbera- 
tion that  echoes  through  the  cave  like  distant 
thunder.  What  an  alarum ! 

All  at  once  they  find  themselves  in  a  vast  and 
lofty  gallery  with  a  majestic  dome.  In  the  centre 
stands  a  single  figure.  Surely  the  chisel  of  the 
statuary  has  wrought  here !  That  Roman  drap- 
ery, through  which  the  outlines  of  the  limbs  are 
visible — that  truncheon  in  the  hand — that  regal 
head — those  half  familiar  features — could  they 
all  be  carved  by  the  hand  of  Nature  ?  This  is 
called  the  hall  of  Washington,  and  the  statue  is 
designated  as  that  of  the  Father  of  his  country. 

Next  they  enter  the  chamber  of  Mrs.  Washing- 
ton. 

That  steep  stair  they  are  ascending  is  styled 
Jacob's  ladder.  And  there  is  Jacob's  tea  table — 
(Did  Jacob  drink  tea  ?)  and  yonder  is  Jacob's  ice- 


214  TWIN    ROSES. 

house.  (The  young  guide  is  quite  certain  he 
had  one.) 

Now  they  are  walking  amid  cathedral-like 
aisles.  Are  they  not  formed  of  trees  ?  What  a 
bower-like  place ! 

"  The  garden  of  Paradise !  "  exclaims  the  boy- 
guide,  and  they  acknowledge  the  fitness  of  the 
name. 

Ever  and  anon  they  have  to  stoop  low  and 
almost  crawl  through  narrow  passages,  but  this 
inconvenience  is  of  brief  duration  and  quite  for- 
gotten, when  they  stand  erect  again  in  some  new 
chamber  of  wonder. 

A  clear  spring  runs  through  the  cave.  They 
drink  of  the  cold,  pellucid  water,  and  declare  they 
have  never  tasted  a  more  refreshing  draught. 

Now  they  are  ushered  into  the  ball  room,  with 
its  smooth  floor,  its  decorated  walls,  its  orchestra 
for  musicians — its  ottomans  for  the  weary.  They 
seat  themselves  while  the  youthful  guide,  in  a  *«>t, 
sullen  way,  recounts  how  many  balls  are  given 
there — how  the  walls  are  illuminated  by  thou- 
sands of  candles — how  the  dancers  foot  it  for 
hours  to  merry  music — how  the  feast  is  spread, 
and  how  the  old  cave  rings  with  the  sound  of 
revelry.  But  he  relates  all  this  as  though  there 
was  nothing  in  the  recollection  of  the  fete  to  sur- 


TWIN   ROSES.  215 

prise  or  please  him ; — as  though  he  had  undoubt- 
edly witnessed  these  festive  scenes,  but  his  sombre 
dulness  had  never  been  stirred  by  them. 

They  have  no  time  to  linger — they  pass  on. 

"The  leaning  tower  of  Pisa!"  ejaculates  the 
guide — "  The  Natural  Bridge." 

Yes — they  behold  remarkable  representations 
of  both.  They  wander  into  another  chamber 
still.  Jessie  is  the  first  to  stop.  She  exclaims, 
gazing  upwards  with  a  radiant  countenance, 
"  Oh !  how  exquisite !  " 

"  The  bridal  comb  and  veil ! "  quoth  the 
guide. 

It  is  indeed  a  Spanish-shaped  comb  over  which 
droops  a  long,  snow-white  veil  of  finest  texture, 
glittering  as  though  inwrought  with  brightest 
gems.  Beyond  is  the  "  shower  of  diamonds,"  a 
perfect  rain  of  effulgence — and  near,  a  sparkling 
chandelier. 

But  it  would  consume  pages  to  enumerate  all 
the  strange,  grotesque,  fantastic  creations  in  that 
marvellous  cave.  Pause  we  here. 

The  wanderings  of  Herman  and  Jessie,  through 
its  intricate  windings,  occupied  from  four  to  five 
hours. 

The  air  was  so  cool  and  invigorating  that 
Jessie,  in  spite  of  her  feebleness,  was  hardly  con- 


216  TWIN   ROSES. 

scious  of  fatigue  until  she  once  more  found  her- 
self in  the  passage  near  the  cavern's  mouth. 

The  light  that  streamed  in  resembled  that  of  a 
soft  moon.  They  extinguished  their  candles,  that 
it  might  become  more  apparent. 

After  resting  awhile  in  the  vestibule,  they  return 
to  the  quiet  little  inn.  Jessie  was  obliged  to  seek 
her  couch  at  once.  The  pretty  Rachel,  as  she 
helped  to  disrobe  her,  proved  an  amusing  and 
efficient  handmaiden. 

Jessie  lay  for  several  hours  in  a  half  dreamy 
state,  wandering  in  thought  through  the  en- 
chanted halls  of  the  cave,  and  recalling  all  its 
beauties. 

The  next  morning  they  bade  adieu  to  their 
juvenile  hosts  and  returned  to  Staunton. 

The  morning  after,  they  started  at  six  o'clock, 
in  the  Central  train  for  Richmond.  Once  more 
they  passed  over  the  magnificent  Blue  Ridge. 
The  passage  was  now  made  at  Rockfish  Gap, 
and  in  the  railway  cars. 

They  seemed  floating  in  some  steam-engine 
balloon  over  the  tops  of  mountains — over  grand, 
extensive  forests — over  verdant  glebes,  intersected 
here  and  there  with  leaping  rivulets — over  cottage 
homes,  and  well-tilled  farms.  The  descent  ap- 
peared to  be  more  perilous,  though  it  was  far  less 


TWIN  ROSES.  217 

rapid  than  the  rushing  down  of  the  stagecoach 
when  they  crossed  at  Buford's  Gap. 

They  obtained  a  fine  view  of  the  noble  Uni- 
versity of  Virginia. 

At  half-past  one  o'clock,  they  reached  Rich- 
mond. At  the  hotel  they  were  once  more  wel- 
comed by  a  group  of  colored  attendants,  foremost 
among  which  stood  Aunt  Sylvia,  who  quickly 
espied  and  took  bodily  possession  of  her  favorite. 


19 


218  TWIN  ROSES. 

CHAPTER  XVIL 

CLOUDS. 

JESSIE  delighted  to  retrace  in  thought  her  brief 
journey  through  the  grand  "  old  dominion."  She 
had  stored  up  a  vast  gallery  of  beautiful  images 
in  the  chambers  of  memory  and  contemplated 
them  with  unwearied  pleasure.  Is  not  to  embel- 
lish those  temple  walls  of  the  mind  one  of  the 
highest  uses  of  travel  ? 

Her  health  had  undergone  a  wonderful  change. 
Her  step  had  regained  something  of  its  former 
airiness.  The  summer  roses  had  once  more 
faintly  reflected  their  bloom  upon  her  cheeks. 
Her  eyes  were  less  heavily  shaded  by  their 
drooping  lids.  Her  whole  mien  had  lost  its  op- 
pressive languor. 

Herman  noted  these  happy  prognostics  with  a 
throbbing  heart.  He  thought  they  augured  a 
complete  restoration.  His  own  gushing  flow  of 
animal  spirits  had  been  checked  when  he  saw  her 
fading  by  his  side.  Now  his  lively  organization 
resumed  its  native  tone. 

The  first  sweet  days  of  unclouded  anticipation, 


TWIN   ROSES.  219 

which  they  had  spent  in  Boston,  seemed  to  return. 
She  was  now  his  constant  companion,  the  good 
angel  ever  by  his  side.  Until  the  close  of  the 
theatre,  his  time  had  been  so  wholly  engrossed 
by  her  illness,  and  the  claims  of  his  profession, 
that  he  could  not,  according  to  his  wont,  search 
out  every  object  of  interest  within  reach.  He  had 
seen  but  very  little  of  "  the  city  of  hills  and  of 
schools,"  as  it  is  not  inappropriately  called, — for 
certainly  no  city  in  the  United  States,  of  the 
same  dimensions,  can  boast  of  so  large  a  number 
of  either.  May  we  look  upon  these  natural  and 
acquired  advantages  as  signs  of  elevation  and 
education  extraordinary?  Now  Herman  con- 
ducted Jessie  to  the  Capitol,  where,  directly 
beneath  the  dome,  stood  Houdon's  unsurpassed 
statue  of  Washington,  modelled  from  exact  meas- 
urement of  the  living  man.  They  wandered 
through  the  well-ordered  Capitol  grounds  and 
examined  the  granite  structure  where,  facing  the 
Governor's  mansion,  Crawford's  master-piece  of 
art,  the  Washington  Monument,  was  in  process 
of  erection.  Herman  took  her  to  the  spot  where 
the  first  theatre  was  burned  to  the  ground.  The 
Monumental  Church  stands  in  its  place,  with  the 
ashes  of  the  sixty,  who  lost  their  lives  in  the 
flames,  inurned- before  its  portals. 


220  TWIN  ROSES. 

On  Sunday  they  visited  the  African  church, 
saw  the  throng  of  devout  colored  disciples  listen- 
ing to  the  exhortation  of  their  pastor  with  rapt 
attention ;  and  heard  their  melodious  voices  raised 
in  adoration.  Jessie  could  distinguish  Aunt  Syl- 
via's piercing  tones,  the  loudest  among  the  loud. 

The  next  day  they  drove  to  that  most  pic- 
turesque of  cemeteries,  Hollywood,  and  gave  the 
tribute  of  their  ever  ready  admiration  to  its  groves 
of  holly,  its  gentle  hills,  its  sequestered  dells,  its 
low- voiced  brook,  its  glorious  prospects ! 

Then  they  drove  to  Church  Hill  and  Gamble's 
Hill,  and  contemplated  the  lovely  landscapes 
revealed  from  their  heights. 

Herman  was  very  desirous  of  beholding  the 
far-famed  site  of  the  royal -residence  of  the  Indian 
chief  Powhatan  ; — some  affirm,  the  scene  of  Poca- 
hontas's  heroic  rescue  of  Captain  Smith.  It  is 
now  a  private  country  seat,  though  often  resorted 
to  by  strangers.  All  Herman's  persuasions  could 
not  induce  Jessie  to  allow  him  to  obtain  permis- 
sion for  them  to  visit  the  famous  locality.  Her 
sensitiveness  and  her  reserve  were  unconquerable. 

When  every  noteworthy  locality  in  Richmond 
and  its  environs  had  been  exhausted,  no  doubt 
the  ever  restless  motion  of  Herman's  blood  would 
have  impelled  him  to  seek  change  or  occupa- 


TWIN  KOSES.  221 

tion.  Both  were  unexpectedly  provided  before 
he  began  to  feel  their  need. 

He  received  an  urgent  letter  from  his  old  friend, 
the  manager  of  the  Boston  Museum,  soliciting 
him  to  enter,  into  a  new  engagement.  All  the 
theatres  were  closed  during  the  summer  season, 
and  the  Museum  had  the  prospect,  so  the  man- 
ager assured  Herman,  of  a  "terrific  business."  He 
concluded  by  offering  very  tempting  terms. 

Jessie  saw  how  Herman's  countenance  kindled 
as  he  read  the  letter,  how  his  whole  frame 
seemed  penetrated  with  delightful  emotion  as 
the  olden  charm  of  personation  stole  over  him 
like  a  spell. 

"  Let  us  go !  "  she  exclaimed,  "  let  us  go  back 
to  Boston — let  us  go  at  once.  We  shall  see  my 
only  friend  on  this  side  of  the  ocean,  Miss  Pome- 
roy.  I  can  make  ready  in  a  day." 

An  assent  was  dispatched  by  the  next  mail. 

Aunt  Sylvia  was  once  more  busily  employed 
in  packing.  She  parted  very  reluctantly  with  her 
charge.  As  she  grasped  both  of  Jessie's  hands  in 
adieu,  she  said,  "  Seek  de  Lord,  young  Missus — 
seek  de  Lord !  Make  your  blessed  bed  in  Heaven. 
There  aint  no  peace  nowhar  but  dar.  Jordan's 
a  hard  road  to  travel,  but  it's  blessed  to  dem  dat 
gets  to  de  end  ont.  Don't  you  go  to  forget  old 
19* 


222  TWIN   ROSES. 

Sylvy,  and  jus  mind  her  words  to  seek  de  Lord. 
Dem's  her  partin  monitions." 

Two  days  after  the  reception  of  the  letter, 
Jessie  and  Herman  left  Richmond  in  one  of  the 
admirable  steamers  that  run,  twice  every  week,  to 
New  York.  In  thirty-six  hours  they  reached  that 
city,  and  the  same  afternoon  took  the  Fall  River 
steamboat  for  Boston.  At  daydawn  they  beheld 
again  the  familiar  objects  they  had  first  looked 
upon  in  this  new  land. 

A  line  to  Miss  Pomeroy  brought  her  quickly 
to  the  hotel,  where  they  now  took  up  their  abode. 
They  preferred  it  to  a  boarding-house,  for  Jessie 
had  more  privacy,  and  that  was  her  first  requi- 
site. 

Very  precious  to  Jessie  was  the  intercourse  of 
friendship.  She  welcomed  Miss  Pomeroy  with  a 
sisterly  warmth  which  she  had  never  bestowed  on 
any  one  except  Jeannie. 

Jessie  listened  meekly  to  Miss  Pomeroy 's  chid- 
ing. She  was  wounded  that  the  young  actress 
had  refused  to  receive  the  friends  to  whom  she 
•wished  to  present  her  in  Richmond;  that  Jessie 
had  persisted  in  such  entire  seclusion;  she  had 
wronged,  by  her  judgment  of  them,  many  warm, 
liberal  hearts ;  she  had  needlessly  shut  herself  out 
of  much  social  enjoyment. 


TWIN  ROSES.  223 

"  It  may  be  so,"  said  Jessie,  "  but  I  never  could 
get  that  canon  of  the  Episcopal  church  in  Vir- 
ginia out  of  my  head.  I  may  have  been  unjust 
in  my  conclusions.  I  fear  I  have  been,  but  you 
know  I  dread  strangers  at  all  times." 

Herman  was  received  by  the  Boston  audience 
with  demonstrations  of  the  most  genuine  enthu- 
siasm. Inspired  by  this  token  of  remembrance 
and  approval,  he  surpassed  all  his  former  efforts. 

Jessie  accompanied  him  to  the  Museum  every 
night.  She  sat  at  the  wing  in  a  high-backed 
chair  brought  from  the  property  room,  and  often 
used  on  the  stage  as  the  uneasy  seat  of  royalty. 
With  what  tender  emotion  she  watched  him ! 

It  was  nearly  a  year  since  she  had  witnessed 
any  of  his  personations,  and  she  was  astonished 
at  the  originality  and  beauty  of  his  embodiment. 
His  talents  for  the  stage  were  indisputable.  But 
they  had  required  time  to  develop.  He  had 
wrongly  imagined  that  an  unpractised  hand  could 
strike  the  chords  of  Melpomene's  lyre,  and  draw 
forth  music.  Study  alone  could  teach  the  trick 
of  sounding  the  strings. 

Night  after  night,  and  week  after  week  passed 
on,  and  Herman  took  firmer  hold  of  his  audience 
than  ever.  Yet  his  powers  to  achieve  hardly  kept 
pace  with  his  ambition.  He  was  highly  elated, 


224  TWIN   ROSES. 

but  his  exaltation  of  mind  plunged  him  into  no 
excess.  With  a  strong  hand  he  could  now  bridle 
his  rash  impulses. 

His  acquaintance  was  sought  by  gay  young 
men,  habitues  of  the  theatre ;  he  was  courted  and 
caressed ;  he  was  the  star  of  the  hour ;  but  the 
temptations  that  once  led  him  astray  had  no 
longer  power  over  him. 

Herman  had  very  inadequate  female  support. 
The  manager  proposed  that  Jessie  should  resume 
her  professional  duties.  Herman  would  not  listen 
to  this  suggestion ;  she  should  never  toil  again 
while  he  had  the  power  to  supply  her  wants, 
and  that  power  had  happily  been  granted  him. 

A  higher  pinnacle  was  soon  pointed  out  for  his 
climbing.  He  received  overtures  from  the  first 
theatre  in  Boston.  But  there  his  engagement 
would  have  been  but  for  a  few  weeks'  duration. 
In  those  days  stars  of  magnitude  were  not  fixed ; 
they  travelled  from  city  to  city,  displaying  their 
light  for  a  brief  season,  then  giving  place  to  some 
other  luminary. 

Herman  had  ceased  to  act  on  impulse.  He 
declined  this  flattering  offer,  and  accepted  one 
from  the  manager  of  the  Museum,  which  occupied 
his  time  until  the  coming  spring.  After  that,  he 
proposed  making  the  tour  of  the  States,  and 


TWIN   ROSES.  225 

appearing  in  every  city  where  he  could  obtain  an 
engagement. 

Jessie  would  have  shared  his  pleasure  in  form- 
ing these  plans,  if  her  heart  had  not  constantly 
yearned  for  her  English  home — her  sister — her 
child.  She  saw  that,  after  the  present  year 
dragged  to  its  close,  they  would  still  be  separated  ; 
still  another  year  must  be  endured  in  a  foreign 
land.« 

But  Herman's  fondly  laid  plans  were  doomed 
to  be  frustrated.  Hardly  had  the  cold  weather  set 
in,  when  Jessie's  health  again  began  to  decline. 
She  struggled  bravely  to  conceal  her  weakness — 
to  stifle  her  cough  in  Herman's  presence,  that 
she  might  not  render  him  uneasy.  She  still  ac- 
companied him  to  the  Museum  and  watched 
his  performances  with  unflagging  interest.  The 
members  of  the  company  treated  her  with  the 
utmost  kindness  though  she  formed  no  intima- 
cies. 

One  night,  as  Herman  was  enacting  St.  Pierre, 
she  grew  unusually  excited  by  his  personation. 
Her  cough  increased  in  violence,  but  was  hardly 
heeded  until  the  handkerchief  that  she  held  to  her 
lips  was  dyed  a  deep  red.  Jessie  was  startled, 
yet  she  feared  to  alarm  Herman — perhaps  to  mar 
his  grand  conclusion  of  a  performance  which  was 


226  TWIN   ROSES. 

winning  his  greenest  laurels, — she  resolutely  con- 
trolled her  emotion. 

When  he  left  the  stage,  at  the  close  of  the 
fourth  act,  and  tenderly  leaning  over  her,  told  her 
how  much  he  regretted  to  hear  her  cough  so  often, 
she  smiled,  though  faintly,  and  answered  without 
disclosing  the  sad  discovery  she  had  made.  She 
even  hurried  him  away  to  arrange  his  costume 
for  the  dying  scene,  and  told  him  how  impres- 
sively he  was  acting. 

He  obeyed  her  in  happy  unconsciousness  of 
her  state. 

Through  the  whole  of  the  fifth  act  every  cough 
of  Jessie's  was  followed  by  that  red  tide,  yet  she 
made  no  sign.  The  curtain  fell,  Herman  was 
vociferously  cheered.  He  acknowledged  the  sum- 
mons of  the  audience,  and  then,  radiant  with 
smiles,  joined  his  wife,  to  listen,  as  he  thought,  to 
her  dearer  praises.  The  deadly  pallor  of  her 
countenance  alarmed  him. 

"  Good  Heavens!  Jessie,  what  has  happened? 
You  are  very  ill." 

"  Take  me  home  quickly ! "  was  all  she  could 
say  in  answer. 

Without  changing  his  cavalier  costume  he 
caught  her  in  his  arms,  solicited  one  of  the  scene- 
shifters  who  stood  near  to  go  for  the  physician  by 


TWIN  ROSES.  227 

whom  Jessie  had  been  attended,  placed  her  in  a 
carriage,  and  they  drove  home.  Her  cough  was 
so  incessant  that  she  did  not  attempt  to  reply, 
save  by  the  pressure  of  her  hand,  to  his  tender 
words.  Herman  never  divined  the  sad  truth  until 
they  reached  their  apartment  and  he  had  laid  her 
on  her  bed. 

The  physician,  who  quickly  arrived,  found  it 
difficult  to  calm  the  distracted  husband's  paroxysm 
of  terror.  Jessie's  danger  was  imminent — that 
could  not  be  denied.  It  was  some  hours  before 
the  flow  of  blood  was  arrested,  and  then  she  lay 
exhausted,  and  but  half  conscious. 

The  next  day  Herman  never  left  her  side  for  a 
moment,  but  at  night  he  was  forced  to  enact  the 
hero  while  he  was  in  reality  playing  the  martyr. 
He  returned  home  with  a  heavy  heart  to  his  wife, 
to  see  her  strength,  her  life,  slowly,  yet  visibly 
wasting  away,  while  it  seemed  as  though  no 
earthly  power  could  arrest  the  ebbing  tide. 


228  TWIN   KOSES. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

MILDRED    AND    THE    BULFINCH. 

AND  Jeannie — how  fared  it  with  her  during 
this  long  interval  of  separation — these  weary 
years  that  she  had  been  severed  from  herself  in 
being  divided  from  her  heart's  sister — her  twin 
spirit  ? 

The  care  of  little  Mildred  had  been  a  mingled 
source  of  joy  and  painful  anxiety.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  conceive  a  more  bewitching,  captivat- 
ing creature  than  this  wayward,  yet  lovely  child. 
She  was  now  five  years  of  age — the  incarnation 
of  riante,  fro  ward,  jocund  infancy.  In  spite  of 
the  beautiful  heritage  of  her  mother's  dark  eyes 
and  brows,  she  strangely  resembled  her  father  in 
appearance.  Her  hair,  which  twined  itself  into  a 
wild  mass  of  untaught  ringlets,  was  of  the  sunny 
hue  that  his  had  been  in  babyhood.  He  had 
transmitted  to  her  his  buoyant,  vehement  tem- 
perament— his  spontaneity  and  restlessness.  Her 
lit  tit;  heart  seemed  ever  overflowing  with  the  un- 
reasoning, gushing  mirth  of  childhood;  her  affec- 


TWIN    ROSES. 


tions  were  easily  excited;  but  she  was  wilful, 
domineering,  always  engaged  in  some  merry  mis- 
chief,— always  plunging  headlong  into  danger, 
and  extricating  herself  with  a  coolness  and 
bravery  that  startled  and  confounded  those  who 
beheld  her.  She  at  once  delighted  and  per- 
plexed 

"  With  her  moods  of  shade  and  sunshine, 
Eyes  that  smiled  and  frowned  alternate, 
Feet  as  rapid  as  the  river, 
Tresses  flowing  like  the  water, 
And  as  musical  a  laughter."  # 

Jeannie,  unable  to  follow  her  from  place  to  place, 
often  sought  in  vain  to  chain  or  charm  the  child 
to  her  side.  Heedless  of  the  gentle  but  imploring 
voice  that  bade  her  stay,  she  would  bound  from 
the  chamber  and  disappear. 

Before  Liza,  at  Jeannie's  request,  could  cap- 
ture her,  she  was  down  on  the  stage,  or  up  in 
"  the  flies,"  or  in  the  scenic  artist's  room,  hand- 
ling his  brushes,  daubing  over  his  painting,  upset- 
ting glue  pots,  and  playing  all  sorts  of  elfin 
pranks.  She  seemed  to  be  thoroughly  imbued 
with  her  father's  passion  for  the  stage.  Not  un- 
frequently  she  was  discovered  in  some  of  the 
dressing-rooms  of  the  theatre,  decked  out  with 

*  Longfellow. 
20 


230  TWIN    ROSES. 

finery,  which  she  had  abstracted  from  the  ward- 
robe, enacting  improvised  heroines  to  a  host  of 
juvenile  spectators. 

More  than  once,  when  a  pantomime  was  repre- 
sented, she  eluded  Jeannie's  vigilance,  stole  to  the 
tiring-room  of  the  children,  and  coaxing  off  one 
of  the  little  girl's  dresses,  arrayed  herself  as  one 
of  the  goblin  band,  and  accompanied  the  group 
upon  the  stage.  But  the  unusual  abandon  and 
frolicsomeness  of  the  strange  imp  invariably 
betrayed  her.  When  she  was  detected,  Mr. 
Hawkwood  took  especial  pleasure  in  carrying  the 
screaming,  struggling  child  to  Jeannie's  apart- 
ment. As  he  delivered  her  into  custody,  he  often 
froze  Jeannie's  blood  by  his  solemn  prophecy  that 
this  young  one  would  come  to  no  good.  He  was 
sure  of  that — let  Jeannie  remember  his  words 
when  his  prediction  was  fulfilled ! 

Jeannie  would  begin  a  grave  reproof,  but  Mil- 
dred's chubby  arms  were  flung  around  her  neck, 
and  her  mouth  was  stopped  with  kisses.  When 
she  insisted  on  speaking,  the  child's  comical 
antics,  and  arch  defence  of  her  histrionic  predi- 
lections, made  it  impossible  to  preserve  a  serious 
countenance. 

Jeannie  devoted  several  hours  every  day  to  her 
instruction.  Whatever  she  chose  to  acquire,  she 


TWIN    ROSES.  231 

learned  with  astonishing  rapidity — but  the  knowl- 
edge she  preferred  was  usually  of  a  fanciful  and 
unpractical  character.  Her  powers  of  imitation 
were  wonderful.  She  would  often  burst  into 
Jeannie's  room,  and  throwing  herself  into  a  start- 
ling attitude,  correctly  execute  the  most  difficult 
evolutions  of  the  dancers  who  were  practising  on 
the  stage  below.  There  was  not  a  person  in  the 
theatre  whom  she  could  not  accurately  mimic, 
and  there  was  only  one  whom  she  would  not. 
She  always  replied  with  petulant  indignation, 
when  any  of  the  actors  dared  her  "  take  off" 
Aunt  Jeannie. 

In  spite  of  her  perverse  ways  she  fondly  loved 
Jeannie,  and  a  tear  in  her  eye  would  do  more  to 
check  her  waywardness  than  remonstrances,  re- 
proaches, or  threats  of  punishment  could  ever 
have  effected. 

Mildred  was  strong,  vigorous — her  physique 
remarkably  developed.  She  would  easily  have 
been  mistaken  for  a  child  in  her  seventh  or  eighth 
year. 

Since  Jessie's  departure,  Jeannie's  apartment 
had  been  more  resorted  to,  by  the  members  of 
the  company,  than  ever.  It  was  a  spot  where 
almost  all  loved  to  congregate.  The  quietude  of 
that  picturesque  little  chamber  imparted  a  sense 


TWIN   ROSES. 


of  repose  even  amidst  toil.  Then  Jeannie's  pres- 
ence had  a  composing  influence  over  untranquil 
spirits.  There  was  seldom  a  discussion  or  quar- 
rel in  the  theatre  that  the  parties  did  not  bring 
their  grievances  before  Jeannie.  Both  sides  ap- 
pealed to  her  as  umpire  of  their  wrongs.  And 
she,  with  the  faculty  which  a  life-pervading  charity 
imparts, 

"  from  some  slender  vein 

Of  goodness,  which  surrounding  gloom  concealed, 
Struck  sunlight  o'er" 

actions  which  both  were  resolved  to  regard  in  the 
blackness  of  blind  wrath. 

"  I  can't  understand  it,  Jeannie,"  said  Dorothy 
to  her  on  one  of  these  occasions — "  there's  no 
making  yco  blame  either  party — there's  no  get- 
ting you  indignant  or  making  you  feel  that 
there's  no  earthly  excuse  for  such  conduct.  I 
don't  understand  the  secret  of  it.  Why  can't  you 
come  out  boldly  and  say  it's  a  horrid  shame,  and 
they  deserve  the  worst  they  can  get ! " 

"So  I  would,  perhaps,  if  I  had  nothing  to 
accuse  myself  of; "  answered  Jeannie  mildly. 
u  I,  myself,  have  only  to  recall  the  evil  I  have  not 
avoided  in  the  past — which  I  may  not  have  the 
strength  to  shun  in  the  future ; — I  have  only  to 
think  of  the  good  I  might  have  done  and  have 


TWIN  ROSES.  233 

not  done,  and  I  dare  not  lift  my  voice  to  censure 
a  weak  fellow-mortal." 

"  You  not  do  all  the  good  you  could  ? —  You  ever 
do  any  harm  ?  I  don't  believe  it ! "  replied  Dolly 
energetically. 

"  I  wish  the  angels,  who  see  us  always,  did  not." 

"  As  to  that,"  answered  Dolly  in  her  reckless 
way,  "  I  don't  know  that  I  should  believe  any 
thing  about  angels,  if  I  didn't  think  that  you  were 
one  yourself.  Of  this  I'm  certain,  I  can't  feel 
half  so  wicked  when  I'm  sitting  here  beside  you, 
as  I  can  at  other  times." 

It  was  true  that  Jeannie  had  the  lovable 
power  to  conjure  up  all  the  slumbering  goodness, 
all  the  gentler,  better  attributes  of  the  natures 
with  which  she  was  brought  in  contact.  We  are 
all  of  us  musical  instruments,  heaven-strung,  and 
designed  to  give  forth  sweet  strains  in  praise  of 
the  creating  hand, — but  most  of  us  are  vilely  out 
of  tune.  Jeannie's  accordant  touch  had  the  gift 
of  bringing  into  harmony  the  discordant  heart- 
strings of  others,  until  they  marvelled  at  their 
own  unwonted  melody. 

It  was  this  faculty  which  Dorothy  recognized, 
though  she  could  not  have  analyzed  her  emotions, 
or  framed  them  into  language. 

And  where  was  Sylvester  ?  He  had  long  since 
20* 


234  TWIN   ROSES. 

made  declaration  of  his  passion  and  had  been 
quietly  assured  that  it  could  never  be  returned. 
Still,  with  wonderful  patience,  he  leaned  upon 
Hope,  "  a  lover's  staff,"  as  Shakespeare  styles  it, 
and  "managed  it  against  despairing  thoughts." 
He  still  hovered  around  Jeannie,  too  happy  when 
he  could  sometimes  catch 

"  The  falling  music  of  a  gracious  word, 
Or  the  stray  sunshine  of  a  smile." 

It  was  now  the  third  spring  that  the  sisters  had 
been  separated. 

Jeannie  was  sitting  in  her  chamber,  musing 
mournfully  over  the  tidings  of  Jessie's  protracted 
illness,  and  striving  to  familiarize  her  thoughts 
with  the  heart-rending  possibility  of  never  again 
meeting  her  in  this  life. 

Mildred  was  playing  with  the  bulfinch,  imitat- 
ing his  sweet  notes,  feeding  him  from  her  lips, 
and  teaching  him  to  obey  her  call.  She  closed 
the  window,  as  usual,  before  she  took  him  from 
his  cage.  Tame  as  he  was,  Jeannie  had  always 
been  fearful  of  tempting  him  with  offered  liberty. 

Jeannie  was  bending  over  her  endless  embroid- 
ery, when  she  was  startled  from  her  sad  thoughts 
by  a  loud  cry  from  the  child. 

"  Oh !  Bulbul !  Bulbul !  My  bird !  he's  gone  ! 
he's  gone  !  he's  flown !  " 


TWIN   ROSES.  235 

Mildred  was  standing  at  the  window.  She  had 
raised  it  out  of  sport — just  to  see  if  the  bird 
would  want  to  fly.  She  had  stretched  her  hand 
out  of  the  casement  with  the  bird  resting  on  her 
finger.  The  soft  breeze,  the  blue  sky  had  called 
him — he  had  obeyed  the  summons. 

When  Jeannie  reached  the  window,  the  bird 
had  alighted  upon  the  roof  of  a  neighboring  resi- 
dence. Mildred  was  screaming  violently  and 
calling  to  him.  Either  her  cries,  or  the  approach 
of  some  supposed  danger,  frightened  the  truant. 
He  again  spread  his  wings,  and  Mildred  shouted 
louder  than  ever.  She  saw  him  fly  through  an 
open  window  of  the  adjacent  hotel. 

"  Oh !  I  see  where  he  has  gone  !  I  can  catch 
him  there ! " 

Before  Jeannie  could  stop  her,  away  darted  the 
child.  Jeannie  knew  that  it  was  in  vain  to  call 
her  back,  or  to  send  after  her.  She  stood  watch- 
ing at  the  window  until  she  saw  Mildred  gain 
admission  into  the  house ;  then  returned  to  her 
work,  patiently  to  await  the  result. 

Jeannie  was  strongly  attached  to  the  bulfinch. 
There  were  sweet  associations  conjured  up  by  his 
warbling — no  other  bird  could  ever  sing  half  so 
tunefully  to  her  ears. 

Mildred,   with    a    few    hurried,   unintelligible 


236  TWIN   ROSES. 

words,  rushed  by  the  servant  who  opened  the 
door,  hastened  up  stairs,  made  a  rapid  search 
through  several  apartments,  and  at  last  entered 
the  one  where  the  bird  had  taken  refuge. 

There  was  but  one  occupant  of  the  chamber ; 
a  gray-haired  man,  thin,  pale,  and  evidently  worn 
with  sorrow.  He  sat  in  an  arm-chair,  his  head 
gloomily  resting  on  his  hands.  He  was  appar- 
ently waiting  for  some  expected  visiter.  He 
had  not  noticed  the  bird  fluttering  around  the 
room,  but  the  vision  of  that  beautiful  child,  with 
her  fair  hair  floating  luxuriantly  over  her  shoul- 
ders, her  black,  flashing  eyes,  her  crimsoned 
cheeks,  her  quick,  undulating  movements,  rouM-d 
him  from  a  mournful  reverie. 

"  See !  there  he  is !  our  Bulbul — our  pretty 
Bulbul !  oh,  help  me  to  catch  him !  Aunt  Jean- 
nie's  pet  and  my  pet, — we  can't  part  with  our 
bird ! "  and  Mildred  sprang  from  side  to  side,  pur- 
suing the  terrified  bird  which  fluttered  out  of  her 
reach  and  struck  his  head  constantly  against  the 
ceiling. 

The  old  man,  involuntarily  interested  in  the 
child  and  her  attempts,  rose,  and  prudently  closed 
thr  window  and  door. 

"  Now,  little  girl,  we  will  see  what  we  can  do. 
Be  patient,  child.  Don't  frighten  the  poor  flut- 


TWIN  ROSES.  237 

terer.  Sit  still  awhile  and  perhaps  he  will  alight 
somewhere.  You  will  make  him  kill  himself, 
bumping  against  the  ceiling,  if  you  chase  him 
so." 

He  resumed  his  seat,  drew  the  reluctant  and 
excited  child  to  him,  and  held  her  by  her  wrist. 

With  face  upturned,  and  glistening  eyes,  she 
watched  the  bird  and  murmured  in  a  low,  sweet 
voice,  "  poor  Bulbul !  pretty  Bulbul !  " 

Several  times  she  made  an  effort  to  pursue  him 
again,  but  the  old  man  restrained  her. 

"  You  can't  do  it  that  way,  my  dear.  He  is 
tiring  himself  out.  Wait  until  he  alights — we 
will  have  him  presently." 

"  Oh !  you  are  so  good  !  such  a  dear,  good  old 
man ! "  said  Mildred,  giving  one  glance  at  her 
new  friend,  and  then  turning  her  eyes  upon  the 
bird  again. 

At  last  the  panting  bird,  after  dashing  against 
the  window  frames,  high  out  of  reach,  suddenly 
received  such  a  blow  that  he  fell,  half-stunned,  to 
the  ground. 

Mildred  broke  from  the  stranger's  grasp,  but,  as 
she  approached,  the  bird  flew  upwards  again.  As 
he  rose,  he  struck  the  lower  panes — the  old  man 
threw  his  handkerchief  over  him — he  fell  again 
to  the  ground,  and  this  time  was  captured. 


238  TWIN  ROSES. 

"  See,  we  have  him  safe  at  last,  my  little  one ; " 
said  he,  as  he  carefully  took  the  bird  from  the 
folds  of  the  handkerchief. 

Mildred  gave  a  wild  bound  of  delight,  and  a 
shout  ofjoy — then  took  the  trembling  bird  and 
caresse^Pftim,  and  lavished  all  sorts  of  tender 
epithets  upon  him,  and  mimicked  his  musical 
notes,  regardless  of  the  presence  of  the  stranger. 

He  stood  gazing  upon  her  in  affectionate  ad- 
miration, waiting  for  an  opportunity  when  he 
could  question  her,  and  learn  to  whom  she 
belonged,  for  his  heart  yearned  towards  infancy. 

"  Oh !  I'm  so  glad — so  glad ! "  said  Mildred,  as 
she  caught  his  eye.  "  It  was  so  good  of  you." 

"  Now  that  you  have  the  bird  safe,  won't  you 
speak  a  few  words  to  me,  my  child  ?  Won't  you 
tell  me  your  name  ?  " 

"Millie— Mildred!" 

"  Mildred !  "  repeated  the  stranger  with  a  half 
sigh ;  it  was  not  a  common  name,  and  it  was  the 
name  of  his  wife.  "  Mildred,  and  what  else  ?  " 
he  asked  with  increased  interest. 

"  Mildred  Landor ! " 

The  old  man  gave  a  violent  start. 

"  Mildred  Landor !  Mildred  Landor !  "  he  re- 
peated, almost  overpowered  with  agitation.  "  Oh ! 
my  God!" 


TWIN   ROSES.  239 

He  covered  his  face,  and  seemed  to  be  weeping. 
Then  recovering  himself,  as  though  he  felt  assured 
that  this  was  but  some  strange  coincidence,  he 
addressed  the  wondering  child  again.  She  had 
laid  her  hand  on  his  shoulder  when  she  saw  his 
sudden  burst  of  grief,  and  now  stood  quietly 
beside  him. 

"  And  your  father  and  mother,  where  do  they 
live  ?  " 

"  Over  in  America,"  replied  the  child  with  a 
sorrowful  countenance,  as  though  she  had  been 
taught  to  lament  the  absence  of  parents  she  could 
not  even  remember. 

"  America ! "  gasped  the  old  man,  now  more 
strongly  moved  than  ever.  "  And  you — where  do 
you  live  ?  " 

"  Come — and  I  will  show  you — it's  not  far.  I 
must  take  Bulbul  to  his  cage — see  how  he  flutters 
and  pants." 

"  Where  ?  where  ?  "  again  asked  the  stranger. 

"  With  Aunt  Jeannie,"  replied  the  child,  begin- 
ning to  be  alarmed  by  his  manner,  though  she 
was  a  dauntless  little  creature. 

"  Where  ?  "  was  all  he  could  repeat,  and  the 
word  was  uttered  with  great  difficulty. 

"  Close  by — over  in  the  theatre  yonder." 

"  Then  it  is  so !     My  child !     My  child  !     How 


240  TWIN   ROSES. 

could  I  help  knowing  that  face — that  look — so 
like  my  boy's  ?  It  is  his  child — my  child ! "  and 
he  strained  the  reluctant  little  girl  to  his  bosom. 

Her  alarm  increased  at  this  inexplicable  demon- 
stration, and  she  struggled  to  free  herself  from  the 
arms  that  clasped  her  so  fondly. 

Witha  violent  effort,  she  at  length  broke  from 
his  embrace,  and  bounded  towards  the  door — 
looked  back,  and  seeing  the  old  man's  moistened 
cheek,  said  pityingly,  "  What  you  cry  for  ?  "  and 
returned  to  him. 

"  Millie,  my  darling  child,  you  do  not  know 
who  is  talking  to  you — it's  your  own  grandfather ; 
your  father's  father." 

"Aunt  Jeannie  said  I  had  a  grandpapa,  but 
that  she  never  saw  him.  Won't  you  come  and 
see  Aunt  Jeannie  now,  grandpapa  ?  "  asked  the 
child,  with  winning  trustfulness,  acknowledging 
the  kinship. 

Mr.  Landor  hesitated — "  where  is  she  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  she's  always  in  her  room,  you  know — in 
the  theatre  yonder.  She  can't  walk  out — they 
call  Aunt  Jeannie  a  cripple.  She  lives  way  up 
top  of  the  old  place  in  a  little  room  all  by  her- 
self. She  and  I  live  there  together." 

"  The  theatre ! "  muttered  Mr.  Landor  with  a 
slight  shudder.  Then  he  gazed  again  at  the 


TWIN  ROSES.  241 

child  very  fondly.  "  I  have  discarded  him — that's 
done — my  word  is  passed;  but  I  did  not  say 
that  my  wrath  should  be  visited  on  his  child — I 
said  nothing  of  this  innocent  little  one.  I  will 
see  this  aunt  and  judge  for  myself.  I  will  beg 
the  child  of  her;  I  will  take  the  deaf  creature 
home  to  its  grandmother,  and  perhaps  that  may 
keep  her  poor  heart  from  wholly  breaking.  Little 
Millie  is  too  young  to  have  learned  harm  over 
there.  I'll  take  her  home  to  comfort  the  old 
woman." 

While  Mr.  Landor  was  making  these  internal 
reflections,  Millie  was  pulling  impatiently  at  his 
coat. 

"  Come,  come,  I  want  to  put  Bulbul  back  into 
his  cage.  Aunt  Jeannie  will  be  fretting  for  me. 
Come  and  see  her,  grandpapa — won't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I'll  go,  I'll  go." 

The  old  man  and  little  girl  went  out  together, 
she  as  his  conductor. 


21 


242  TWIN  ROSES. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

A   DISCOVERY. 

MR.  LANDOR  had  visited  London  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  learning  some  tidings  of  Her- 
man. Direct  communication  with  him  he  could 
not  have  sought — that  his  oath  forbade.  His 
wife,  since  her  alienation  from  her  only  son,  had 
been  subject  to  fits  of  deep  despondency.  The 
birth  of  Herman's  child  had  at  first  filled  her 
heart  with  joyous  emotions.  Bright  visions  of 
the  future,  to  which  she  gave  no  utterance, 
floated  before  her,  and  stirred  her  heart  with  long 
departed  joy.  But,  as  year  after  year  passed  on, 
and  no  further  intelligence  was  received,  she 
gradually  sank  into  a  state  of  hopeless  melan- 
choly. She  knew  that  it  was  useless  to  argue 
with  her  husband.  He  was  bound  by  principle, 
and  martyred  himself  and  her  from  a  sense  of 
right  He  could  not  be  moved.  She  had  prom- 
ised him  to  hold  no  communication  with  Herman, 
and  though  her  maternal  feelings  often  prompted 
her  to  break  her  word,  it  was  sacredly  kept. 


TWIN  ROSES.  243 

How  eagerly  she  searched  the  papers  to  catch 
but  a  glimpse  of  his  name!  She  found  it,  at 
last,  accompanied  by  the  brief  information  that 
he  was  becoming  a  great  favorite  with  the  Amer- 
ican public ! 

"  See,"  she  said,  holding  out  the  paper  to  her 
husband,  while  the  tears  coursed  down  her  with- 
ered cheeks,  "  he  has  crossed  the  water — he  is 
further  from  us  than  ever !  My  son !  I  shall 
never  behold  him  again !  " 

A  long  interval  elapsed  without  additional 
tidings. 

Every  day  Mrs.  Landor  sat  for  hours,  eagerly 
poring  over  the  newspapers,  which  she  unfolded 
with  trembling  hands.  She  searched  in  vain. 
At  last,  Mr.  Landor,  overcome  by  the  sight  of 
his  wife's  silent  but  ever-increasing  anguish, 
resolved  to  go  to  London,  to  seek  Hawkwood, 
and  learn  from  this  valued  friend  some  intelli- 
gence of  Herman,  which  he  could  bring  back  to 
cheer  his  wife. 

Immediately  after  Mr.  Lander's  arrival,  he  had 
dispatched  a  note  to  the  wily  actor,  and  waited 
at  a  hotel,  near  the  theatre,  for  him  to  answer  it 
in  person.  Hawkwood  was  detained  by  a  long 
rehearsal.  When,  at  its  close,  he  obeyed  Mr. 
Landor' s  summons  with  malicious  glee,  he  found 


244  TWIN  ROSES. 

that  his  friend  had  departed,  and  without  leaving 
any  message.  He  sat  down  to  await  his  return. 

Meantime  Mr.  Landor  had  followed  little  Mil- 
dred, who  guided  him,  through  the  private  en- 
trance of  the  theatre,  up  the  long  flights  of 
narrow  stairs,  to  the  busy  wardrobe  room. 

The  pale  needlewomen  looked  up  wonderingly 
from  their  work  at  the  sight  of  the  stranger  led 
by  little  Mildred.  As  they  passed  on,  she  was 
chattering  merrily  and  with  the  self-important 
air  of  an  accomplished  cicerone. 

"  This  is  aunt  Jeannie's  room— come  in  !  "  said 
little  Millie,  throwing  open  the  door,  and  bound- 
ing into  the  chamber  with  the  bird  in  her  out- 
stretched hand. 

"  See — I  have  Bulbul  safe — I  caught  him ; — 
see  how  he  flutters !  I  must  put  him  in  prison, 
to  punish  him  for  flying  away;"  and  Millie 
sprang  upon  a  chair  and  opened  the  cage,  for- 
getting in  her  delight  to  introduce  her  com- 
panion. 

Mr.  Landor  stood  on  the  threshold  of  that 
chamber,  as  his  son  had  paused  there,  for  the 
first  time,  years  before,  inhaling  (even  as  he  had 
done)  the  perfume-laden  air,  and  gazing  around 
(as  he  did)  with  an  expression  of  mingled  amaze- 
ment and  pleasure. 


TWIN  ROSES.  245 

Jeannie,  when  she  beheld  the  stranger,  laid 
down  her  work  in  some  confusion,  and  placed 
her  hand  on  the  crutches,  which  always  stood 
near  her  couch.  She  made  an  attempt  to  rise. 

"  Do  not  disturb  yourself,"  said  Mr.  Landor 
kindly,  and  entering  the  chamber.  "  Pardon  my 
abrupt  intrusion.  Little  Mildred  found  me  in 
the  hotel  yonder.  I  helped  her  to  capture  the 
bird,  and  I  only  learned  by  accident — though  I 
ought  to  have  known  from  her  strong  resem- 
blance"— here  he  paused  a  moment — "whose 
child  she  was.  She  has  forgotten  to  introduce 
me." 

"  Yes — it  was  I  brought  grandpapa  to  see  you, 
Aunt  Jeannie." 

"  Grandpapa !  Is  it  possible  ? "  exclaimed 
Jeannie,  in  her  turn  strongly  moved. 

"  Yes,  if  this  be  the  child  of  Herman  Landor — 
for  he  is  my  son — my  only  son !  The  son  who 
has  so  cruelly  abandoned  father  and  mother  in 
their  old  age !  " 

"  Oh  !  sir,  I  never  thought  to  have  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  you,  of  talking  to  you  of  him  and  of 
my  dear  sister.  I  knew  that  you  objected  to  the 
marriage  because  she,  poor  child,  was  an  actress, 
and  the  daughter  of  an  actress;  but  Herman 

would  never  give  us  any  particulars  of  your  dis- 
21 » 


246  TWIN   ROSES. 

pleasure,  and  we  were  too  delicate  to  press  the 
subject." 

"  Not  because  she  was  an  actress !  I  would 
not  have  been  so  cruel  and  unjust  as  that  I 
would  not  have  discarded  ray  son  for  marrying 
any  honest  woman." 

Jeannie,  her  dark  eyes  dilated  with  wonder  and 
horror,  looked  at  him  for  some  time  with  steady 
gaze,  before  she  spoke.  The  power  of  utterance 
seemed  suspended. 

When  at  last  the  fetters  of  her  tongue  were 
loosed,  she  exclaimed  indignantly,  "Is  there  a 
being  living  who  could  venture  to  hint  even  that 
my  sister,  my  own,  noble,  pure-hearted  Jessie 
was  not  worthy  of  any  man,  if  virtue  and  good- 
ness could  render  her  worthy  ?  Mr.  Landor,  you 
could  not  mean  to  insult  her — to  insult  me  by 
suggesting — "  Jeannie  shuddered,  and  could  not 
finish  the  sentence. 

There  was  something  in  her  manner  more  con- 
vincing to  Mr.  Landor  than  the  most  eloquent  rep- 
resentations and  expostulations  could  have  been. 

"  God  forgive  me ! "  he  replied  in  a  conscience- 
stricken  tone, "  if  I  have  done  her  wrong — done  my 
own  son  wrong !  But  I  did  not  act  impulsively, 
nor  hastily.  When  I  received  my  son's  letter,  I 
came  to  London  to  make  inquiries.  I  saw  one 


TWIN  ROSES.  247 

of  the  members  of  this  company,  an  old  man  who 
knew  you  both  from  childhood.  His  exact  words 
I  cannot  repeat,  but  he  gave  me  impressions  that 
made  me  revolt  from  this  union  with  my  son.  If 
they  have  been  false — if  they  have  been — oh 
God !  how  much  I  have  to  answer  for ! " 

Jeannie  disdained  to  reply  to  the  latter  portion 
of  his  sentence,  and  inquired  with  calm  dignity, 
"  the  actor's  name  ?  " 

"  Hawkwood — Joseph  Hawkwood ! " 

There  was  more  indignation  in  Jeannie's  tone 
than  perhaps  she  had  ever  used  in  her  life,  as  she 
replied,  "  And  you  could  credit  the  word  of  such 
a  man  ?  A  man  who  was  never  known  to  speak 
well  of  any  human  being — whose  name  is  a  bye- 
word,  another  term  for  slander, — beneath  whose 
tongue  lies  the  venom  of  a  serpent's  ?  And  you 
never  inquired  if  his  words  were  true?  You 
sought  no  other  authority  ?  " 

"  What  motive  could  he  have  for,  deceiving 
me  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Landor  deprecatingly,  and  with 
the  air  of  a  man  who  feels  that  he  is  justly 
accused,  and  has  little  plea  for  his  own  defence. 

"  The  delight  of  traducing  was  motive  enough, 
for  to  defame  is  his  ruling  passion.  I  have  also 
heard  of  Herman's  giving  him  offence  at  one  of 
his  first  rehearsals.  Go  ask  Mr.  Hawkwood's 


248  TWIN  EOSES. 

character  of  any  one  who  knows  him,  and  learn 
whether  his  word  can  be  trusted.  Go  ask  my 
dear  sister's,  and  see  whether  a  shadow  has  ever 
rested  upon  her  stainless  name." 

"  If  this  be  true — "  began  the  old  man  in  a 
tone  of  anguish. 

"  If  it  be  true,"  interrupted  Jeannie,  "  sir,  it  is 
true." 

"Oh!  I  feel  it!  I  am  sure  of  it!"  said  Mr. 
Landor,  taking  her  hand.  "  What  reparation  can 
I  make  you — can  I  make  my  boy  ?  " 

"Aunt  Jeannie,"  broke  in  little  Mildred,  "  what's 
the  matter  with  you,  and  what's  the  matter  with 
grandpapa  ?  What  you  both  cry  for  ?  I  won't 
love  grandpapa  if  he  makes  you  cry — no  I 
won't,"  added  she  petulantly,  snatching  her  hand 
away  as  her  grandfather  attempted  to  draw  her 
to  him.  "  I  don't  love  him  one  bit,  and  papa  and 
mamma  shan't  love  him  either — no  they  shan't ! " 

"  They  have  had  too  little  cause — too  little 
cause !  Heaven  forgive  me !  "  sighed  Mr.  Landor 
with  contrition.  "  Oh !  that  evil-tongued  man ! 
And  I  credited  him — never  thought  of  learning 
his  own  character  before  I  believed  he  had  faith- 
fully painted  the  object  of  my  dear  boy's  choice. 
Brainless,  doting  fool!  It  is  /,  not  Herman, — I 
who  have  nearly  killed  his  mother  !  " 


TWIN  ROSES.  249 

t;  I  have  a  recent  letter  from  Herman,"  said 
Jeannie  soothingly,  for  she  could  not  witness  the 
old  man's  violent  sorrow  and  self-reproach,  un- 
moved. 

"And  he  is  well — happy  too,  perhaps,  without 
a  thought  of  us  ! " 

"  He  is  well,  and  doing  well ;  but  my  sister, 
I  fear,  is — poor  Jessie !  poor  Jessie !  She  has 
suffered  much  in  a  strange  land.  But  Herman 
could  not  be  contented  here,  and  she  followed- 
him ;  and  now — now  we  shall  never  see  her 
again,  for  even  Herman  seems  to  despair !  She 
is  failing  so  fast,  he  gives  me  little  hope !  The 
Lord's  will  be  done !  " 

"  He  must  bring  her  back — bring  her  home  !  I 
will  write  this  very  day.  I  will  make  no  con- 
ditions. I  will  only  say,  '  Come  back — come  back 
and  bring  your  wife  to  us!  Come  all!  wife, 
child,  sister  ;  share  our  home.  Pursue  what  occu- 
pation you  please — the  stage,  any  thing  you  like, 
as  you  honor  any  vocation  by  your  conduct; 
but,  come  back  quickly  ! '  Means— he  shall  have 
ample  means !  What  has  my  wealth  been 
worth  since  it  was  unshared  by  him?  Nothing, 
worse  than  nothing ! "  Excitement  choked  his 
utterance. 

"  What  music  your  words  are  to  me ! "   said 


250  TWIN   ROSES. 

Jeannie,  "  and  my  sister  will  return ;  her  husband 
will  be  restored  to  your  love ;  her  child  will — oh ! 
Millie,  darling,  throw  your  arms  around  grand- 
papa's neck,  and  bless  him  and  thank  him !  " 

"  No,  no,  no  !  He  made  you  cry,  aunt  Jeannie ; 
I  don't  love  him — I  won't  kiss  him."  And  she 
lavished  upon  her  aunt  the  most  tender  caresses. 

But,  even  after  explanations  and  remonstrances, 
she  could  not  be  made  to  approach  her  grand- 
father. She  had  some  indefinite  feeling  that  he 
had  caused  pain  to  one  she  loved,  and  was  not 
willing  to  pardon  him. 

Jeannie  knew  that  it  was  in  vain  to  argue  with 
the  froward  child.  Mr.  Landor  looked  wounded, 
and  tried  fruitlessly  to  lure  her  to  him.  Jeannie 
was  compelled  to  beg  him  to  desist,  saying  that 
Millie  would  be  more  reasonable  when  she  com- 
prehended matters  better. 

Mr.  Landor  relinquished  his  attempts  with 
reluctance. 

Turning  once  more  to  Jeannie,  he  said,  "  And 
you  live  here  all  alone ;  you  work  for  your  liveli- 
hood," (glancing  at  the  rich  embroidery  lying  on 
the  floor ;)  "  you,  an  invalid,  work ;  you  are  poor, 
doubtless  ?  " 

"  *  Poor  and  content,  is  rich,  and  rich  enough,' " 
replied  Jeannie,  in  a  cheerful  tone. 


TWIN   HOSES.  251 

"  But  how  dreadful  it  must  be  for  you  to  be 
compelled  to  labor,  for  it  is  easy  to  see  that  you 
are  weak,  that  you  have  suffered." 

"  Not  dreadful,  while  my  faith  is  strong  that, 
whether  little  or  much  of  worldly  goods  is  re- 
ceived, we  all  receive  as  much  as  is  profitable  for 
us, — little  they  to  whom  little  is  profitable,  and 
much  they  to  whom  much  is  profitable.  The 
Lord  alone  knows  how  much  is  good  for  me, 
and  he  has  the  final,  eternal  good,  always  in 
view.  Thus  I  have  not  found  it  dreadful  to  have 
no  more  than  he  willed.  Are  they  not  wise 
words,  '  A  man's  life  consisteth  not  in  the  abun- 
dance of  the  things  he  possesseth  ? ' ' 

"  Would  that  you  could  teach  that  lesson  to 
the  many  who  murmur !  But,  you  must  toil  no 
more ;  you  must  come  home  with  me ;  come 
home  at  once  to  cheer  Herman's  mother;  you 
will  be  a  dear  companion  to  her." 

"  Thank  you,  for  your  great  goodness,  but  I 
had  better  wait  until  I  hear  from  my  sister  and 
brother.  Still,  I  am  equally  grateful." 

"  Wait !  No,  that  can't  be.  You  must  come 
and  talk  to  my  wife  of  her  son,  her  darling  boy, 
and  bring  the  little  daughter  to  cheer  her.  We 
may  save  her  yet,  for  I  have  sometimes  feared 
she  was  dying  of  grief.  No,  we  can't  wait." 


252  TWIN   ROSES. 

Jeannie  still  hesitated. 

"  Can  you  refuse  to  perform  such  an  office  of 
mercy  ?  Will  you  not  show  me  that  I  am  fully 
pardoned  for  my  blind  inhumanity,  by  consent- 
ing ?  When  will  you  go  with  me  ?  You  shall 
have  birds  and  flowers  in  abundance,  and  the 
most  beautiful  of  views  from  your  window,  in- 
stead of  that  patch  of  blue  sky  just  showing 
above  the  chimney  tops.  When  will  you  go  with 
me?" 

"  No— no,  Aunt  Jeannie  shan't  go  with  you ! 
you  made  her  cry — we  won't  go !  "  cried  out  little 
Mildred.  "  We  won't ! "  stamping  her  tiny  foot 
with  a  determined  air. 

"  Yes,  Mildred — grandpapa  will  make  us 
happy,  and  papa  and  momma  will  return.  Yes, 
we  will  go  in  a  few  days  as  soon  as  I  can  get 
ready." 

"  A  few  days !  No — that  won't  do  either.  I 
suppose  you  can't  pull  up  stakes  in  time  for  this 
afternoon's  train?  Then,  say  to-morrow.  You 
can't  have  much  to  pack."  And  he  smiled  signi- 
ficantly, as  he  glanced  around  the  room. 

Jeannie  reflected  his  smile  in  assent  to  what 
was  so  obvious. 

"  Then  say  to-morrow!  No  doubt  there  are 
plenty  to  help  you  in  getting  your  extensive  prop- 


TWIN    ROSES.  253 

erty  together.  I  wish  I  was  skilful  enough  in 
such  matters  to  turn  to  and  lend  a  hand  myself. 
But  my  old  woman  never  would  allow  me  to 
touch  an  article  when  she  was  busy  packing,  so  I 
can't  boast  of  experience.  Say  to-morrow,  there's 
a  dear  girl.  I  feel  as  though  I  could  not  part 
with  you  again.  Already  my  heart  clings  to  you. 
I  hope  your  sister  is  like  you.  Such  a  wife  is 
just  what  I  could  have  wished  for  my  boy.  Oh ! 
if  I  could  but  have  seen  you  before." 

The  warm  blood  crimsoned  Jeannie's  cheeks 
and  brow  at  those  words,  and  she  experienced  a 
stilling,  blinding  sensation,  as  old  dreams  rushed 
back  uninvoked,  and  the  book  of  memory  lay 
open  at  a  forbidden  page.  The  leaves  were 
quickly  sealed  down  again,  and  she  replied  with 
tolerable  calmness,  "  We  are  twin  sisters,  and 
very  much  alike,  every  one  says,  except  that 
Jessie  was  fresh,  and  strong,  and  well,  and  full 
of  life  and  joyousness,  until — until  after  the  trials 
of  her  marriage.  Now,  I  fear,  she  resembles  me 
far  more  than  she  did  when  she  became  a  bride. 
She  was  the  incarnation  of  health  and  loveliness." 

"  And  she  owes  to  me — to  my  folly  and  obsti- 
nacy, the  change.  Miserable  dotard  that  I  am ! 
But  we  will  take  tender  care  of  her  when  she  is 
once  at  home  with  us.  We  will  atone,  a  thousand 
22 


254  TWIN    ROSES. 

times  over,  for  all  the  past.  But  you  and  I  will 
lay  plans  together  for  all  that.  Only  say  that  I 
may  come  for  you  to-morrow,  and  that  you  will 
leave  by  the  early  train.  Don't  refuse — you  will 
not?" 

"  No,"  replied  Jeannie,  "  I  will  go,  if  I  can  be 
spared.  Fortunately,  at  this  moment  the  ward- 
robe is  not  crowded  with  work." 

"  That's  a  noble  girl !  You  shall  ever  be  a 
daughter  to  me.  Your  sister  is  my  son's  wife, 
and  her  twin  sister  shall  be  equally  my  daughter. 
Now,  farewell.  To-morrow  I  will  come  for  you. 
Farewell,  my  daughter  !  Farewell,  Millie." 

He  stooped  down  to  kiss  her,  but  the  child 
still  drew  away,  unreconciled.  Jeannie  signed  to 
him  not  to  urge  her ;  entreaty  was  useless,  and 
only  confirmed  her  waywardness. 

With  a  lighter  heart  than  he  had  carried  in  his 
breast  for  years,  and  his  benign  countenance 
illumined  with  newly  kindled  hope,  the  old  man 
departed.' 

We  will  not  dwell  upon  his  interview  with  Mr. 
Hawkwood,  who  still  awaited  him  at  the  hotel. 

Mr.  Landor  uttered  few  reproaches.  Self-re- 
proach, within  his  own  heart,  spoke  with  too  loud 
a  voice  for  him  to  rebuke  another.  He  cut  the 
discomfited  actor  short  in  his  wily  explanations 


TWIN    ROSES.  255 

and  assurances  that  he  had  only  spoken  what  he 
believed  to  be  the  truth. 

"  You  must  pardon  me  if  I  have  not  time  to 
hear  any  more,"  said  Mr.  Landor,  coldly.  "  Good 
morning." 

Hawkwood,  white  with  impotent  rage,  turned 
away,  pondering  over  the  possibility  of  avenging 
such  an  insult.  The  only  consolation  of  which 
his  nature  was  susceptible,  was  drawn  from  the 
belief  that  some  revenge  would  be  in  his 
power. 

How  Mrs.  Budd  bustled  about  Jeannie's  cham- 
ber for  the  rest  of  the  day !  How  she  talked  of 
the  shortness  of  the  time  allowed  her  to  pack — 
the  shortness  of  life  in  general — and  the  time 
habitually  squandered  by  young  people !  How 
the  members  of  the  company  poured  in  to  con- 
gratulate Jeannie,  as  soon  as  they  heard  the 
news! 

Dorothy  and  Sylvester  were  the  only  two 
whose  personal  feelings  would  not  allow  them  to 
rejoice. 

Dorothy,  with  characteristic  philosophy,  soon 
made  the  best  of  what  was  inevitable.  She 
vehemently  told  her  lovelorn  brother  that  matters 
might  have  been  worse,  and  that,  since  Jeannie 
had  made  up  her  mind  not  to  return  his  affection, 


256  TWIN    ROSES. 

it  was  well  she  was  going  to  be  removed  out  of 
his  sight.  That  was  his  best  chance  of  getting 
over  it  and  forgetting  her. 

But  Sylvester  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  pro- 
posed cure  ;  he  preferred  the  disease. 

All  at  once,  Mr.  Brown,  with  a  portentous 
countenance,  appeared  in  the  midst  of  the  group 
now  congregated  in  Jeannie's  apartment.  He 
was  dismayed  by  the  news  which  had  just  reached 
him.  It  was  quite  impossible,  he  declared,  lor 
him  to  consent  to  Jeannie  Garnett's  removal. 
He  knew  of  no  one  who  could  supply  her  place — 
no  one  to  whom  he  could  entrust  his  finest  em- 
broideries. He  must  insist  upon  her  relinquish- 
ing her  intention  to  leave  the  establishment.  It 
could  hardly  exist  without  her,  as  it  certainly 
could  not  without  him. 

Jeannie  found  it  very  difficult  to  convince  him 
that  her  resolution  was  unalterable.  The  inter- 
ests of  the  theatre,  of  the  wardrobe,  in  particular, 
were  in  his  estimation  paramount  to  all  other 
matters.  She  could  not  be  spared ;  that  ought  to 
be  enough. 

Jeannie,  having  exhausted  her  arguments, 
hailed  Mrs.  Budd's  timely  intervention.  That 
well-intentioned  person  succeeded  in  luring  Mr. 
Brown  from  the  apartment,  and  in  what  manner 


TWIN  ROSES.  257 

she  reconciled  him  to  Jeannie's  departure,  did 
not  transpire.  It  is  said  he  talked,  for  some 
time,  of  instituting  a  lawsuit  against  Jeannie  for 
her  desertion,  but  finally  abandoned  his  intention  ; 
or  perhaps  the  complaint  he  made  to  Mr.  Landor 
was  answered  in  so  satisfactory  a  manner  that  he 
was  silenced  thereby. 

When  Mr.  Landor  came  for  Jeannie  and  Mil- 
dred the  next  morning,  he  found  them  surrounded 
by  a  crowd  of  humble  friends  taking  an  affec- 
tionate adieu. 

Millie  carried  the  bird  cage.  She  was  en- 
chanted by  the  excitement  and  bustle,  and  was 
inclined  to  regard  her  grandfather  with  some 
affection,  as  its  originator. 

Jeannie  was,  of  course,  unable  to  walk.  Syl- 
vester prayed,  as  a  great  favor,  that  he  might  be 
the  one  selected  to  carry  her  to  the  carriage. 

"  Yes,"  said  Dorothy,  trying  to  gulp  down  her 
sobs ;  "  don't  refuse  the  poor  fellow  that.  It 
might  be  more  that  he  asked — it  might  be 
worse — "  a  great  sob  took  her  breath,  and  she 
could  not  conclude  her  sentence. 

"  Certainly,  Sylvester,"  said  Jeannie  mildly. 
"  I  can  trust  myself  to  you ;  I  am  sure  you  will 
carry  me  safely,  and  I  believe  I  am  not  heavy." 

Light,  however,  as  was  that  fragile  form,  Syl- 
22* 


258  TWIN  KOSES. 

Tester's  arms  trembled  so  much  when  he  lifted 
her  that  he  could  hardly  totter  down  the  stairway 
with  his  beloved  burden. 

Dorothy,  who  followed  him  closely,  now  gave 
him  a  sharp  blow  on  his  back,  and  said,  "  Be  a 
man,  can't  you?  It  would  have  been  worse,  if 
she  had  refused  you  even  that !  " 

Jeannie  was  placed  safely  in  the  carriage. 
Millie,  her  bird-cage  in  hand,  jumped  in  and 
took  the  seat  beside  her.  Mr.  Landor  followed. 

Her  favorite  flowers  Jeannie  had  left  in  charge 
of  Mrs.  Budd,  and  she  hoped  some  day  to  re- 
claim them,  though  she  hardly  liked  to  ask  Mr. 
Landor  to  take  them  now. 

Not  the  members  of  the  company  merely,  but 
every  one  connected  with  the  theatre,  scenic 
artists,  carpenters,  scene-shifters,  door-keepers, 
crowded  around  the  coach  to  speak  one  last  word 
to  Jeannie,  who  was  beloved  by  all.  As  the 
carriage  drove  away,  they  gave  a  shout  of  tri- 
umph that  brought  tears  of  gratitude  to  her  eyes. 


TWIN  EOSES.  259 


CHAPTER  XX. 

CONCLUSION. 

THE  physician  rose  to  depart.  Herman  fol- 
lowed him  from  the  chamber,  where  they  had 
sat  through  the  long  night,  watching  the  faint 
gaspings  of  the  exhausted  invalid. 

Herman's  temperament  was  too  sanguine  to 
yield  wholly  to  despair,  but  few  and  faint  were 
the  glimmerings  of  hope  that  now  feebly  pierced 
the  darkness  in  which  his  spirit  was  immersed. 

"  She  is  very  low,  doctor,  but  she  will  re- 
cover ?  " 

"  It  is  not  impossible ;  but  I  must  warn  you  to 
prepare  yourself  for  the  worst.  To  arouse  her 
from  this  semi-lethargy,  I  have  tried  the  most 
potent  restoratives ;  you  have  seen  how  fruitlessly. 
Her  life  seems  to  be  slowly  fading  out  without 
a  struggle." 

Herman  listened  to  these  fatal  words  as  though 
he  heard  her  death-warrant  pronounced.  Stag- 
gering under  the  weight  of  the  blow,  he  reentered 
the  chamber  and  with  uncertain  steps  approached 


260  TWIN   ROSES. 

the  bed.  Long  and  earnestly  he  scanned  her 
lovely  features,  hoping  to  read  some  denial  there. 
She  slept,  or  appeared  to  sleep,  yet  her  eyes  were 
not  wholly  closed.  Under  the  half-shut  lids, 
through  the  silky  fringes,  the  dark  orbs  shone 
glassily.  Not  the  faintest  hue  tinged  her  mouth 
or  hollow  cheeks.  The  breath  that  issued  through 
those  parted  lips  was  scarcely  perceptible,  and 
left  her  bosom  motionless.  Herman  gently  raised 
the  small,  lily-white  hand,  and  tried  to  discover 
the  beating  of  a  pulse.  Was  it  the  tumultuous 
throbbing  of  his  own  which  prevented  his  detect- 
ing the  faint  fluttering  of  hers,  or  was  she  indeed 
dying  ? 

He  has  fallen  upon  his  knees  beside  the  bed  in 
convulsive  agony.  The  door  softly  opens.  A 
stealthy  foot  crosses  the  chamber.  A  letter  is 
silently  laid  beside  him.  One  glance — he  recog- 
nizes his  father's  familiar  characters !  With  an 
irrepressible  cry  of  joy  he  tears  the  letter  open, 
and  reads  pantingly. 

That  strange,  wild  cry  has  broken  Jessie's 
stupor-like  slumber.  She  is  staring  at  him  wit  h 
a  look  of  feeble  surprise. 

His  countenance,  his  whole  frame  quivers  with 
strong  agitation.  Still  grasping  the  letter,  he 
folds  her  in  his  arms,  his  hot  tears  are  rained 


TWIN    ROSES.  261 

upon  her,  and  the  breast  on  which  she  lies  heaves 
like  a  turbulent  sea. 

«  Herman ! " 

It  was  the  first  word  she  had  uttered  for  several 
days. 

"  Jessie,  my  wife  !  my  love !  revive — live  to  be 
happy!  Here  are  tidings  that  I  fear  to  tell  you — 
I  fear  the  joy  will  be  almost  too  great.  Can  you 
bear  it  ?  " 

"  Is  it  of  Millie  and  Jeannie  ?  "  she  murmured. 

"  Yes,  of  them,  and  of  my  father ! " 

Jessie  raised  herself  suddenly  at  that  last  word, 
a  new  light  shot  from  her  dim  eye,  and  the  long 
absent  rose-tint  flashed  back  to  her  wan  cheek. 

"  He  has  seen  Jeannie  and  our  daughter,"  con- 
tinued Herman.  "  He  loves  them,  he  has  taken 
them  to  his  own  house — to  '  The  Retreat,'  in 
Devonshire.  You  know  how  often  I  have 
described  it  to  you.  He  bids  me  bring  you  there, 
he  makes  no  conditions — he  calls  us  back  to  be 
his  children ! " 

"  Now  I  can  die  happy ! "  exclaimed  Jessie 
fervently. 

It  was  months  since  Herman  had  heard  her 
tones  so  clear  and  strong. 

"  Die,  Jessie !  And  what  would  my  life  be 
without  you  ?  What  would  even  the  joy  of 


262  TWIN    ROSES. 

restoration  to  my  parents  be  worth?  Oh!  that 
you  might  live — that  we  might  return  together — 
that  I  might  place  you  in  my  mother's  arms! 
We  will  sail  at  once ! " 

"  For  England  ?  "  ejaculated  Jessie. 

"  Yes — for  England!  We  will  go  to  Devon- 
shire— to  '  The  Retreat,' — to  our  future  home." 

"  Oh !  Heavenly  father  !  through  how  much 
sorrow  thou  hast  fitted  us  to  endure  these  abun- 
dant blessings ! " 

As  Jessie  spoke,  her  face  had  kindled  as  though 
new  vitality  had  been  infused  into  her  frame. 

"  Thank  God  with  me,  my  husband,  or  my 
heart  will  burst  with  its  load  of  gratitude." 

Together  their  fervent  thanksgivings  ascended 
to  the  eternal  throne,  and  into  their  expanded  and 
uplifted  hearts  a  heavenly  influx  descended,  and 
strength — serenity — all  that  was  most  needed, 
was  poured  upon  them  in  affluent  measure. 

By  prayer  we  draw  down  the  light  and  heat 
divine,  or  rather  we  unclose  the  portals  of  the 
heart,  to  receive  the  light  which  is  always  shin- 
ing— the  "  daily  bread  "  of  the  soul,  always  wait- 
ing to  be  appropriated.  It  is  given  when  fer- 
vently solicited,  simply  because  the  fervent  asking 
opens  the  heart  and  enables  us  to  take.  The 
Lord's  bounty  is  only  limited  by  our  capacity 


TWIN    ROSES.  263 

for  reception.     Prayer  increases  not  His  desire  to 

give,  but  our  power  to  receive. 

******** 

Jeannie  had  found  a  home  in  Devonshire  such 
as  she  had  never  before  known.  Herman's 
parents  strove  to  outvie  each  other  in  surround- 
ing her  with  comforts,  with  luxuries,  and  in  en- 
deavoring to  render  her  happy.  She  was  first  in 
their  hearts  as  she  had  been  first  in  that  of  their 
son.  She  was  only  preparing,  so  she  fondly 
hoped,  a  place,  a  dearer,  holier  place  for  her 
cherished  sister. 

Jeannie  found  Mrs.  Landor  a  superior  woman, 
though  suspense  and  grief  had  somewhat  broken 
her  spirit,  and  impaired  her  health.  It  was  easy 
to  perceive  that  Herman  inherited  from  her  his 
buoyant  temperament,  his  eccentric  tendencies, 
his  earnestness  of  purpose,  his  untiring  activity. 
She  only  regarded  life  in  its  poetical  aspects; 
thus  her  joys  were  brighter,  her  sorrows  deeper, 
than  those  of  more  prosaic  organizations.  Thus 
she  had  gained  the  vague  appellation  of  "  ro- 
mantic." She  had  never  comprehended  the  ex- 
istence of  that  matter-loving  class  to  whom,  as  to 
the  senseless  Peter  Bell, 

"  The  primrose  on  the  river's  brim, 
A  yellow  primrose  is  to  him, 
And  it  is  nothing  more.'" 


264  TWIN    ROSES. 

With  her  whole  heart  she  responded  to  the 
opinions  of  an  English  writer  who  says,  "  strip 
an  individual  existence  down  to  its  bare  prose, 
and  we  at  once  revolt  against  the  monstrous  in- 
justice. We  know  that  the  prose  is  only  borne — 
only  toiled  through  from  the  poetry  which  our 
fancy,  our  hopes,  our  affections,  our  faith,  inter- 
weave with  it,  and  because  we  are  able  to  throw 
over  the  most  squalid  rags,  and  the  most  horrible 
misery,  the  purple  robe  of  our  dreams." 

Mr.  Landor  was  twenty  years  her  senior.  Her 
affection  for  him  was  mingled  with  a  touch  of 
awe  and  reverence.  Their  tastes  and  views  had 
not  always  been  accordant.  He  had  been  dis- 
ciplined in  the  rigidly  practical  school ;  all  her 
knowledge  had  been  acquired  in  the  imaginative ; 
there  she  created  to  herself  a  world  that  preserved 
her  heart  in  its  early  freshness. 

As  for  little  Mildred, 

"  That  late  and  high-prized  gift, 
A  little  smiling  grandchild," 

she  became  so  much  the  idol  of  the  old  couple 
that  her  own  welfare  was  endangered.  The  child 
soon  tyranized  over  the  whole  household.  She 
took  the  most  unwarrantable  liberties  with  her 
grandfather.  But  whether  she  powdered  his  coat, 
or  put  pepper  in  his  snuff-box,  or  tied  him  to  hia 


TWIN    ROSES.  265 

chair  while  he  was  napping,  or  fastened  comical 
labels  on  his  back,  she  was  unreproved.  He  was 
only  too  happy  that  the  frolicsome  little  elf  would 
sometimes,  when  tired  of  play,  nestle  on  his 
shoulder  and  submit  to  his  caresses. 

Though  Millie  was  quite  as  much  at  home 
with  her  grandmother,  though  she  as  ardently 
loved  her,  she  reserved  all  her  mischievous  mirth 
for  the  old  man. 

Jeannie's  chamber  is  on  the  first  floor,  and 
opens  into  the  drawing-room.  It  is  a  large,  airy 
apartment.  The  bow-window  uncloses  upon  a 
velvet  lawn,  beyond  is  a  lovely  woodland  pros- 
pect. And  Jeannie  has  had  the  little  hanging 
garden,  with  its  parterre  of  familiar  flowers,  trans- 
ported to  this  window,  and  enlarged  to  suit  its 
more  expansive  proportions.  The  air-plant  too 
waves  its  pendent  tendrils  over  the  bulfinch's 
cage,  occupying  the  same  position  as  in  Jeannie's 
lofty,  many-year  home.  And  there  is  the  same 
rude  hanging-library — the  same  engravings  in 
their  rustic  frames — the  same  statuettes  disposed 
about  the  walls.  They  formed  the  links  of  so 
many  holy  associations  that  Jeannie  would  not 
part  with  one  of  these  humble  adornments. 

Mr.  Landor  has  made  an  excursion  to  London, 
on  important  business,  he  said,  but  his  visit  added 
23 


266  TWIN    ROSES. 

largely  to  the  pictorial  embellishment  of  Jeannie's 
apartment,  and  it  was  never  proved  that  he  had 
any  other  errand  to  the  great  metropolis.  Jeannie 
little  thought  that  her  chamber  would  one  day 
boast  of  really  valuable  works  of  art. 

In  yonder  corner  stands  the  velocipede  chair — 
Herman's  first  gift  Who  would  have  ventured 
to  predict  that .  it  would  ever  have  been  used  in 
his  paternal  home  ? 

The  family  group  in  Devonshire  are  anxiously 
anticipating  a  letter  from  Herman  in  reply  to 
his  father.  The  day  on  which  it  will  be  due 
is  near  at  hand.  But  Herman  had  written  no 
letter. 

The  sun  is  setting  in  prophetic  splendor. 
Jeannie's  couch  is  drawn  to  the  window.  She 
no  longer  bends  over  the  wearisome  embroidery 
ordered  by  Mr.  Brown.  In  its  place  she  holds  a 
volume  of  Longfellow's  poems.  Herman  and 
Jessie  have  taught  her  to  love  the  poets  of 
America.  To  the  delicious  soundings  of  this 
transatlantic  minstrel's  harp,  she  has  hearkened 
with  never-wearying  delight. 

Sometimes  she  lifts  her  eyes  from  the  volume, 
to  gaze  on  the  distant  horizon  bathed  in  sapphire 
light — then  turns  to  the  book  again.  Mrs.  Lan- 
der .sits  beside  her,  listening.  Is  it  the  rolled  ion 


TWIN  ROSES.  267 

of  that  sunset  sky,  or  her  rapt  enthusiasm, 
that  has  restored  so  -  much  youth  to  her  counte- 
nance ? 

Jeannie  reads  in  a  clear,  liquid,  rapidly  vary- 
ing tone,  that  conjures  the  glowing  images  of  the 
poet  into  vivid  life  before  the  eyes. 

Millie  and  her  grandfather  are  strolling  through 
the  adjacent  woods.  She  has  made  him  bear  the 
willow  basket  which  she  is  filling  with  bouquets 
of  wild  flowers.  His  arms  are  laden  with  blos- 
soming boughs  ;  he  has  ravished  the  trees  at  her 
regal  pleasure.  It  is  May-bloom  he  is  carrying, 
for  the  queen-month  of  the  year  has  just  been 
crowned  by  the  earth,  with  her  floral  coronal. 

Hawthorn  brighter  than  the  pale  bough  Her- 
man gathered  for  Jessie  on  the  heights  of  the 
Blue  Ridge!  Hawthorn  as  roseate  as  that  her 
fair  hands  grasped  when  that  lovely  vision  first 
burst  upon  Herman's  sight ! 

Jeannie  started  at  the  sound  of  approaching 
wheels — she  hardly  knew  why.  Raising  her  eyes 
from  the  book,  she  beheld  a  carriage,  driving 
rapidly  through  the  long  avenue  of  trees,  and 
approaching  the  house. 

Her  joyful  exclamation  caused  Mrs.  Landor  to 
spring  up.  She  saw  a  face  looking  from  the  car- 
riage window,  as  though  eager  to  recognize  the 


TWIN  no 

dear,  familiar  scenes — a  bright,  glowing,  manly 
face — it  was  that  of  her  son ! 

"  Herman  !  My  boy !  "  broke  from  the  mother's 
quivering  lips  as  with  the  step  of  girlhood  she 
hurried  to  greet  him,  and  flung  the  door  wide — 
wide  as  the  portals  of  her  heart  had  long  been 
thrown,  for  him  to  enter  once  more. 

For  a  moment,  Jeannie's  agitation  deprived 
her  of  motion — she  sat  with  her  hand  pressed 
tightly  on  her  heart  as  though  to  still  its  tumul- 
tuous throbbings — her  eyes  riveted  on  the  car- 
riage. It  stops.  Herman  leaps  out.  His  mother 
is  clinging  to  his  neck.  Where  is  Jessie  ? 

A  thousand  torturing  thoughts  rush,  with  the 
lightning's  scathing  rapidity,  through  Je;innic's 
brain,  in  answer  to  that  question.  He  is  alone — 
he  is  surely  alone!  See,  he  kisses  his  mother 
again  and  again — he  is  weeping — yet  he  dries 
her  tears  with  a  tender  hand.  She  presses  him 
to  her  heart  anew — she  is  uttering  words  of  con- 
solation. Alas  for  Jeannie !  The  earth  swam 
before  her  eyes — the  universe  seemed  receding 
from  her  sight,  sinking  beneath  her  feet — that 
world  where  she  might  never  more  behold  her 
sister,  her  dearer  self! 

Herman  has  returned  to  the  carriage.  Well 
might  Jeannie  utter  a  convulsive  cry  of  joy  and 


TWIN    RO.-KS.  269 

cling  to  the  window  for  support !  Well  might 
the  sudden  reaction  stun — overpower  her !  It  is 
his  wife  that  Herman  has  gently  lifted  from  the 
coach  and  whom  he  is  leading  to  his  mother! 
Jeannie  once  more  beheld  that  beloved  face, 
though  so  faded,  so  altered.  Her  sister  lived — 
she  was  there — she  was  restored ! 

Jeannie  seized  her  crutches  and  hurried  to  the 
hall  with  all  the  speed  her  motion,  and  her  mis- 
fortune, permitted. 

The  young  wife,  even  as  she  embraced  her 
new  mother,  looked  around  for  her  sister.  Before 
the  others  were  aware  of  Jeannie's  presence, 
Jessie  saw  her  approaching  in  the  distance.  The 
twins  were  once  more  locked  in  each  other's 
arms. 

Mr.  Landor,  and  his  fro  ward  little  granddaugh- 
ter, were  ignorant  of  the  arrival,  though  a  servant 
had  been  sent  in  search  of  them. 

Anxious  as  were  the  youthful  parents  to 
behold  their  child — their  father — how  sweet,  how 
purely,  calmly  happy  was  the  half-hour  that  in- 
tervened before  their  appearance ! 

Herman  sat  by  his  mother's  side,  with  his  arm 
about  her  waist,  relating  to  her  all  that  had  passed 
since  they  parted. 

Jeannie  had  lured  Jessie  into  her  own  apart- 


270  TWIN    ROSES. 

ment,  and  the  twin  sisters,  hand  clasped  in  hand, 
conversed  with  heart-communion. 

"  You  look  as  though  you  had  suffered,  Jessie 
dear, — how  much !  how  very  much  !  You  are 
very  pale,  my  own  Jessie,  and  even  thinner  than 
I.  Yet  you  are  happy  ?  " 

"  Beyond  expression !  All  my  sufferings  have 
been  good  for  me.  I  do  not  regret  one  hour's 
pain — nor  one  moment's  trial.  And  Herman  has 
been  drawn  nearer  to  me  than  he  might  ever 
have  been  but  for  our  sorrows.  Under  the  pres- 
sure of  affliction,  his  spirit  has  expanded — has 
attracted  to  itself  good  influences — has  been 

'  Bleached  beneath  the  winds  of  trial, 
Washed  by  sorrow's  clearing  rain.'  * 

"  Day  by  day  he  grows  more  and  more  what  I 
once  despaired  of  his  ever  becoming.  Ah,  Jean- 
nie !  Every  day  I  am  more  thoroughly  convinced 
that,  let  us  murmur  as  we  will  at  our  lot,  and 
bemoan  its  trials,  each  individual  is  surrounded 
by  the  circumstances — (the  apparently  accidental 
circumstances)  that  fit  him  best  to  bring  forth  the 
whole  strength,  capacity,  beauty  of  his  soul." 

A  gleeful  shout  and  a  bounding  step,  in  the 
adjoining  apartment,  fell  on  Jessie's  ear  and  in- 
terrupted her. 

*  Epes  Sargent. 


TWIN   ROSES.  271 

"  It  is  Millie,"  said  Jeannie,  but  Jessie  was  sure 
of  that  before  she  spoke.  In  a  moment  she  was 
in  the  other  room. 

A  sportive  child,  with  her  arms  full  of  May- 
bloom,  was  leaping  out  of  Herman's  reach,  for 
he  had  started  up  to  embrace  her. 

"  It  is  your  father,"  said  Mrs.  Landor. 

But  Millie  only  turned  her  riante  face  and 
gave  a  shy  look  over  her  shoulder  as  she  was 
running  away. 

"  Your  mother,  too,  my  darling,"  said  the 
grandmother,  when  she  saw  Jessie. 

Perhaps  the  striking  likeness  to  her  beloved 
aunt,  attracted  the  wayward  child,  for  she  invol- 
untarily dropped  the  May-bloom  and  sprang  into 
Jessie's  extended  arms.  After  that  long,  maternal 
greeting,  she  permitted  herself  to  be  led  to  her 
father. 

Just  then  Mr.  Landor  entered.  Millie's  rapid 
feet  had  outstripped  his.  He  came  in  loaded,  as 
the  child  had  been,  with  hawthorn  branches,  and 
carrying  her  basket  of  wild  flower*. 

Surprise  and  joy  rendered  him  speechless  as  he 
embraced  his  son, — for  a  mere  grasp  of  the  hand, 
however  warm,  would  not  have  satisfied  either  of 
them. 

When  Jessie's  turn  came,  he  regained  his  voice 


272  T\\"IX    ROSES. 

and  said  in  a  broken  tone :  "  I  have  done  you 
wrong,  my  daughter ;  and  my  life — all  that 
remains  of  it,  shall  be  devoted  to  atonement. 
Here  is  your  home,  but  I  place  no  restrictions  on 
you  or  your  husband.  Let  him  be  an  actor  if  he 
will.  Henceforth  I  honor  the  profession  that  has 
given  me  such  a  daughter — two  such  daughters!" 
extending  his  hand  to  Jeannie  and  clasping  hers 
with  her  sister's. 

"  No — my  father,"  replied  Herman.  "  I  am 
now  able  to  comply  with  your  wishes.  I  have 
sown  the  wild  oats,  and  reaped  them,  and  I  trust 
another,  better  harvest  will  testify  to  the  fertility 
of  the  soil.  I  will  make  this  my  home  and 
Jessie's,  I  will  embrace  the  occupation  you 
desire.  I  resented  the  attempt  at  compulsion — 
I  cannot  resist  your  love,  your  kindness  to  my 
dear  wife — my  sister — my  child." 

Herman  was  true  to  his  word. 

Surrounded  by  an  atmosphere  of  unambitious 
content,  he  and  Jessie 

"  Yoked  in  all  exercise  of  noble  end," 

walked  cheerfully  on  their  way  in  life's  journey. 
The  shadows  of  the  past  formed  a  background 
of  clouds  upon  which  the  present  and  future 
painted  all  their  landscapes  with  orient  hti«  .-. 


TWIN   ROSES.  273 

The  aged  couple — their  parents — gently  de- 
scended the  vale  of  life  with  thankful  hearts. 

Millie — it  is  difficult  to  prophesy  her  future. 
She  early  evinces  her  father's  unconquerable 
predilection  for  the  stage.  While  he  regrets  this 
bias  of  her  mind,  Herman  resolves  to  profit  by 
his  own  lessons,  to  guide,  not  force  her  inclina- 
tions. The  germs  of  goodness  and  truth  are 
thickly  grafted  in  her  mind,  and,  be  her  destiny 
what  it  may,  these,  through  Divine  Providence, 
will  be  her  safeguard. 

Jeannie's  holy  renunciation — her  silent  heroism, 
won  for  her 

"  The  night  that  calms — the  day  that  cheers." 

She  never  married.  One  only  love-light  had 
thrown  its  radiance  over  her  path — that  quenched, 
perchance  half-forgotten,  it  could  be  rekindled  by 
no  second  torch.  It  has  been  truly  said,  "  The 
largest  heart  is  that  which  only  one  can  rest  upon 
or  impress." 


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POEMS,  NARRATIVE  AND  LYRICAL.     New  Ed.    $1.26. 
POSTHUMOUS   POEMS.    Boards.  Price  60  cents. 
MINSTRELSY,  ANC.  AND  MOD.    2  vols.    Boards.    $1.60. 

ROBERT  BROWNING. 

POETICAL  WORKS.    2  vols.    $2.00. 
MEN  AND  WOMEN.    1  vol.    Price  $1.00 

CAPT.  MAYNE  REID'S  JUVENILE    BOOKS. 

THE  PLANT  HUNTERS.    1  Vol.     ICmo.    Price  75  cents. 
THE  DESERT  HOME:  OR,  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  A  LOOT  FAMILT 

m  THB  WILDERNESS.     With  fine  Plates,  $1.00. 
THE  BOY  HUNTERS.    With  fine  Plates.    Just  published.    Price 

76  cents. 
THE  YOUNG  VOYAGEURS:  OR,  THE  BOT  BUSTERS  IN  THK 

NORTH.     With  Plates.     Price  75  cents. 
THE  FOREST  EXILES.     With  fine  Plates.    76  cents. 
THE  BUSH  BOYS.     With  fine  Plates.     75  cents. 
THE  YOUNG  YAGERS.    With  fine  Plates.    76  cents. 
«* 


A   LIST    OF   BOOKS    PUBLISHED 


GOETHE'S   WRITINGS. 

WILHELM  MEISTER.    Translated  by  THOMAS  CARLTLE.  2  TO!S. 

Price  $2.50. 

FAUST.    Translated  by  HATWARD.    Price  75  cents. 
FAUST.    Translated  by  CHARLES  T.  BROOKS.    Price  $1.00. 

R.  H.  STODDARD. 

POEMS.     Cloth.    Price  63  cents. 

ADVENTURES  IN  FAIRY  LAND.    Price  75  cento. 

SONGS  OF  SUMMER.    Price  76  cents. 


REV.  CHARLES  LOWELL,  D.  D. 

PRACTICAL  SERMONS.     1  rol.    12mo.    $1.25. 
OCCASIONAL  SERMONS.    With  fine  Portrait.    $1.25. 


GEORGE  LUNT. 

LYRIC  POEMS,  &c.     Cloth.    63  cents. 
JULIA.    A  Poem.    60  cents. 


PHILIP  JAMES  BAILEY. 

THE  MYSTIC,  AND  OTHER  POEMS.    60  cents. 
THE  ANGEL  WORLD,  &c.    60  cents. 

ANNA  MARY  HOWITT. 

AN  ART  STUDENT  IN  MUNICH.    Price  $1.26. 
A  SCHOOL  OF  LIFE.    A  Story.    Price  76  cents. 


MRS.  JAMESON. 

CHARACTERISTICS  OF  WOMEN.    Blue  and  gold.  76  ceuts. 

LOVES  OF  THE  P01  "  "  76  cents. 

DIARY  OF  AN  ENNUYEE.  "  "  76  cents, 

SKETCHES  OF  ART,  &c.  "  "  76  cents. 


BY   TIOKNOR   AND    FIELDS. 


MARY  RUSSELL  MITFORD. 

OUR  VILLAGE.    Illustrated.    2  vols.    16mo.    Price  $2.50. 
ATHEBTON,  AND  OTHER  STORIES.    1  vol.    16mo.    $1.25. 


MRS.  CROSLAND. 

LYDIA:    A  WOMAN'S   BOOK.    Cloth.    Price  75  cents, 
ENGLISH  TALES  AND   SKETCHES.     Cloth.    $1.00. 
MEMORABLE  WOMEN.    Illustrated.    $1.00. 


GRACE  GREENWOOD. 

GREENWOOD  LEAVES.    1st  &  2d  Series.    $1.25  each. 

POETICAL  WORKS.     With  fine  Portrait.     Price  75  cents. 

HISTORY  OF  MY  PETS.  With  six  fine  Engravings.  Scarlet 
cloth.  Price  50  cents. 

RECOLLECTIONS  OF  MY  CHILDHOOD.  With  six  fine  En- 
gravings. Scarlet  cloth.  Price  50  cents. 

HAPS  AND  MISHAPS  OF  A  TOUR  IN  EUROPE.  Price 
$1.25. 

MERRIE  ENGLAND.     A  new  Juvenile.    Price  76  cents. 

A  FOREST  TRAGEDY,  AND  OTHER  TALES.    $1.00. 

STORIES  AND  LEGENDS.    A  new  Juvenile. 


MRS.    MOWATT. 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AN  ACTRESS.    Price  $1.25. 
PLAYS.    ARMAND  AND  FASHION.     Price  50  cents. 
MIMIC  LIFE.    1  vol.    Price  $1.25. 
THE  TWIN  ROSES.    1  vol. 


8  A   LIST    OF   BOOKS    PUBLISHED 

MRS.  HOWE. 

PASSION  FLOWERS.    Price  75  cents. 
WORDS  FOR  THK  HOUR.    Price  76  cents. 
THE  WORLD'S  OWN.    Price  50  cents. 

JOSIAH  PHILLIPS  O4JINCY. 

LYTERIA:     A  DRAMATIC  POEM.    Price  50  cents. 
CHARICLES:    A  DRAMATIC  POEM.    Price  50  cents. 

ALICE  GARY. 
POEMS.    1  vol.    16mo.     Price  $1.00. 
CLOVERNOOK  CHILDREN.    With  Plates.    76  cents. 

MRS.    ELIZA    B.    LEE. 

MEMOIR  OF  THE  BUCKMINSTERS.  $1.25. 
FLORENCE,  THE  PARISH  ORPHAN.  50  cents. 
PARTHENIA.  1  vol.  16nio. 

MRS.    JUDSON. 

ALDERBROOK.     BY  FANNY  FORRESTER.     2  vols.     Price  $1.75. 
THE    KATHAYAN   SLAVE,  AND    OTHER   PAPERS.      1   vol. 

Price  63  cents. 
MY  TWO  SISTERS:  A  SKETCH  FROM  MEMORT.    Price  60  cento. 

POETRY. 

LEIGH  HUNT'S  POEMS.    Blue  and  gold.    2  vols.    $1.50. 
GERALD    MASSEY'S    POETICAL    WORKS.      Blue    and  gold. 

75  cents. 

W.  M.  THACKERAY.    BALLADS.    1  vol.    16mo.    76  cents. 
CHARLES  MACKAY'S  POEMS.    1vol.    Cloth.    Price  $1.00. 
HKNRY  ALFORD'S  POKMS.    Just  out.    Price  $1.25. 
RICHARD    MONCKTON    MILNKS.     POKMS   OF    MANY    YEARS. 

Boards.     Price  75  cents. 

GEORGE  H.  P.OKKK.     l'i.\ys  AND  POKMS.    2  vols.  Price  S2.no. 
CHARLES  SPRAGUE.    POETICAL  AND  PROSE  WHITINGS.    With 

fine  Portrait.    Boards.    Price  76  cents. 
GERMAN  LYRICS.    Translated  by  CHARLES  T.  BROOKS.    1  vol. 

16mo.    Cloth.    Price  $1.00. 

MATTHEW  ARNOLD'S  POKMS.    Price  75  cents. 
W.  EDMONSTOUNE  AYTOTJN.    ROTIIWKLL.     Price  7<S  cents. 


BT    flCKNOB   AND    FIELDS. 


THOMAS  W.  PARSONS.    POEMS.    Price  $1.00.    ' 

JOHN  G.    SAXE.     POEMS.     With  Portrait.     Boards,  63  ccnta. 
Cloth,  75  cents. 

HENRY  T.  TUCKERMAN.    POEMS.    Cloth.    Price  76  cents. 
BOWRING'S  MATINS  AND  VESPERS.    Price  50  cents. 

YRIARTE'S  FABLES.    Translated  by  G.  H.  DEVEREUX.    Price 
63  cents. 

MEMORY    AND    HOPE.     A  BOOK   OF   POEMS,  REFERRING  TO 
CHILDHOOD.    Cloth.    Price  $2.00. 

THALATTA:  A  BOOK  FOR  THE  SEA-SIDE.     1  vol.    16mo.    Cloth. 

Price  75  cents. 

PHCEBE  GARY.    POEMS  AND  PARODIES.    75  cents. 
PREMICES.     By  E.  FOXTON.     Price  $1.00. 
PAUL  H.  HAYNE.    Poems.    1  vol.    16mo.    63  cents. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

G.  H.  LEWES.      THE   LIFE  AND  WORKS   OF  GOETHE.      2  vols. 

16mo.     $2.50. 

OAKFIELD.    A  Novel.     By  LIEUT.  ARNOLD.     Price  $1.00. 
ESSAYS    ON   THE    FORMATION    OF   OPINIONS    AND   THE 

PURSUIT  OF  TRUTH.     1vol.    16mo.     Price  $1.00. 
WALDEN:  OR,  LIFE  IN  THF.  WOODS.     By  HENRY  D.  THOREAU. 

1  vol.     16rao.     Price  $1.00. 

LIGHT    ON    THE    DARK    RIVER  :     OR,    MKMOIKS    OF     MRS. 
1  vol.     IGmo.     Cloth.    Price  §1.00. 


WASHINGTON   ALLSTOX.     MONALDI,  a  Tale.     1  vol.     16rao. 

75  cents. 
PROFESSOR  E.  T.  CHANNING.    LECTURES  ON  ORATORY  ANL 

RHETORIC.     Price  75  cents. 
JOHN  C.  FREMONT.     LIKE,  EXPLORATIONS,  &c.     With  Illustra- 

tions.    Price  75  cents. 
SEED-GRAIN   FOR  THOUGHT  AND  DISCUSSION.     Compiled 

by  MRS.  A.  C.  LOWELL.    2  vols.     $1.75. 
A  PHYSICIAN'S   VACATION.     By   DK.   WALTER  CHAXXINC 

Price  $1.50. 

MRS.  HORACE  MANN.    A  PHYSIOLOGICAL  COOKERY  BooK,63c. 
ROBERTSON'S  SERMONS.    1  vol.     12mo.    $1.00. 


10  A   LIST    OF    BOOKS    PUBLISHED 


WILLIAM  MOUNTFORD.  THORPE:  A  QUIET  ENGLISH  TOWN, 
AND  HUMAN  LIFE  THEREIN.  16mo.  Price  $1.00. 

NOTES  FROM  LIFE.  By  HENBY  TAYLOR,  author  of  '  Philip 
Van  Artevelde.'  1  vol.  16ino.  Cloth.  Price  63  cents. 

REJECTED  ADDRESSES.  By  HORACE  and  JAMES  SMITH. 
Boards,  Price  60  cents.  Cloth,  63  cents. 

WARRENIANA.  A  Companion  to  the  'Rejected  Addresses.'  Prico 
63  cents. 

WILLIAM    WORDSWORTH'S   BIOGRAPHY.    2  vols.    $2.60. 

ART  OF  PROLONGING  LIFE.  By  HUFELAND.  Edited  by 
ERASMUS  WILSON,  F.  R.  S.  1  vol.  16mo.  Price  76  cents. 

JOSEPH  T.  BUCKINGHAM'S  PERSONAL  MEMOIRS  AND 
RECOLLECTIONS  OF  EDITORIAL  LIFE.  With  Portrait. 
2  vols.  16mo.  Price  $1.60. 

VILLAGE  LIFE  IN  EGYPT.  By  the  Author  of  '  Purple  Tints  of 
Paris.'  2  vols.  16mo.  Price  $1.25. 

DR.  JOHN  C.  WARREN.  THE  PRESERVATION  OF  HEALTH,  &c. 
1  vol.  Price  38  cents. 

PRIOR'S  LIFE  OF  EDMUND  BURKE.    2  vols.    $2.00. 

NATURE  IN  DISEASE.  BY  DR.  JACOB  BIGELOW.  1  vol.  .16mo. 
Price  $1.25. 

WENSLEY:  A  STORY  WITHOUT  A  MORAL.    Price  76  cents. 

GOLDSMITH.  THE  VICAR  OF  WAKEFIELD.  Illustrated  Edition. 
Price  $3.00. 

PALISS  Y  THE  POTTER.  By  the  Author  of  '  How  to  make  Home 
Unhealthy.'  2  vols.  16mo.  Price  $1.60. 

THE  BARCLAYS  OF  BOSTON.    BY  MRS.  H.  G.  OTIS.    I  ToL 

12mo.    $1.25. 


BY   TICKNOK   AND    FIELDS.  11 

HORACE  MANN.    THOUGHTS  FOB  A  YOUNO  MAS.    26  cents. 

F.  W.  P.  GREENWOOD.    SERMONS  OF  CONSOLATION-     $1.00. 

THE  BOSTON  BOOK.    Price  S1.25. 

ANGEL-VOICES.    Price  38  cents. 

SIR  ROGER  DE  COVERLEY.    From  the  '  Spectator.'    75  cents. 

S.  T.  WALLIS.    SPAIN,  IIEU  INSTITUTIONS,  POLITICS,  AND  P fit- 
Lie  MEN.     Price  $1.00. 

MEMOIR  OF  ROBERT  WHEATON.    1  voL    Price  $1.00. 
LABOR  AND  LOVE  :    A  TALE  OF  ENGLISH  LIKE.     60  cents. 
MRS.  PUTNAM'S  RECEIPT  BOOK  ;    AN  ASSISTANT  TO  Ho  us  K- 

KEEFERS.      1  vol.      161110.      Price   60  CO! 

MRS.  A.  C.  LOWELL.     EULX-ATION  OK  GIRLS.     Price  26  cents. 

THE  SOLITARY  OF  JUAN  FERNANDEZ.     By  the  Author  of 
Picciola.    Price  50  cents. 

RUTH.    A  New  Novel  by  the  Author  of  '  MARY  BARTON.'    Cheap 
Edition.    Price  38  cents. 


EACH  OF  THE  ABOVE  POEMS  AND  PROSE  WRITINGS,  MAT  BK  HAD 
Ef  VARIOUS  STYLES  OF   HANDSOME    BINDING. 


0^-  Any  book  published  by  TICKNOR  &  FIELDS,  will  be  sent  by 
mail,  postage  free,  on  receipt  of  publication  price. 

Their  stock  of  Miscellaneous  Books  is  very  complete,  and  they 
respectfully  solicit  orders  from  CITY  AND  COUNTRY  LIBRA- 
RIES. 


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